Australia: Exploitation drives migrants on PALM scheme to leave employers, putting them at risk of deportation, with over 7,000 "absconding" in past 5 years
“'Scared' and 'helpless': Rayasi's dream of working in Australia was not what she envisioned”
More than 7,000 workers have absconded from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme over the past five years, some due to poor working conditions, exploitation and abuse. But the choice to walk has left many in limbo…
Rayasi was assigned to the 'stomach section' of the factory, which involves cutting a cow's stomach and removing its contents while high-heat steam is blasted to kill bacteria. But within a few weeks, she'd developed occupational hand dermatitis — common among factory workers — and was given sick leave.
When she returned, she asked to be moved to a different section, believing the wet room environment was contributing to her dermatitis, but her request was denied…
Rayasi is one of more than 7,000 PALM workers who have absconded from the scheme over the past five years.
Many have cited poor working conditions, exploitation and abuse — there have also been dozens of fatalities…
Reports of exploitation have also led to investigations by the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman (OFWO). By June 2024, the OFWO had started 228 investigations into PALM scheme-approved employers, and recovered $762,625 on behalf of 1,937 workers…