A three-year investigation into worker exploitation by Australia’s workplace watchdog has found some foreign workers on Australian farms are ‘bonded like slaves’ due to dodgy labour hire contractors.
Australia’s national multibillion dollar fruit and vegetable sector has been under intense scrutiny following revelations of poor working and pay conditions for some foreign workers.
Assistant director in watch dogs regional service team, Jennifer Crook, says foreign workers are lured into contracts on the premise they will have their visas extended.