A migrant (called Wesser in the report) from from Papua New Guinea worked in a lamb meat factory in South Australia in the loading area. Only after being accepted on the palm scheme did the worker learn they would be assigned to the meat industry, without any choice in the matter or choice on their assignment to specific abattoirs in rural towns. He highlights having to wake up at 3am for work and working max 12 hours, sometimes with overtime, which he describes as "really struggling for [his]...body as a whole". He did not get paid for additional 'team lead' responsibilities. He highlights nationality based discrimination at the firm. He approached his agent about this but they failed to remedy the situation, saying it was due to his visa. All participants in the study described having little leisure time, often feeling too exhausted to engage in activities beyond work. Wesser highlights excessive production targets, as he has to do two jobs. A common source of frustration for all workers was the size of deductions from their pay, their lack of prior knowledge about these deductions, and their ongoing difficulty in understanding how deductions were calculated.
信息获取
,
Restricted mobility
,
Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time
,
Wage Theft
,
种族/民族/阶层/出身歧视
,
Access to Non-Judicial Remedy
,
Excessive production targets
回应
回应纪录: 否
信息来源: NGO
摘要
日期: 2025年2月11日
地点:
澳大利亚
A migrant (called 'Taufa' in the report) from from Papua New Guinea worked at an abattoir in Western Australia. Only after being accepted on the palm scheme did the worker learn they would be assigned to the meat industry, without any choice in the matter or choice on their assignment to specific abattoirs in rural towns. He did not get paid for additional 'team lead' responsibilities. All participants in the study described having little leisure time, often feeling too exhausted to engage in activities beyond work. In the freezer room, Taufa says intense physical labour leaves him drenched in sweat despite the cold environment. A common source of frustration for all workers was the size of deductions from their pay, their lack of prior knowledge about these deductions, and their ongoing difficulty in understanding how deductions were calculated. During his pre-departure briefing in PNG, he was promised an hourly wage of $23. However, upon arriving in Australia, he was paid $21.50 for the first three months. Only after raising concerns about being paid below the minimum wage was his pay adjusted to $23.80, aligning with Australia’s minimum wage at the time.
信息获取
,
Restricted mobility
,
Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time
,
Excessive production targets
,
Contract Substitution
,
Wage Theft
,
Minimum Wage
回应
回应纪录: 否
信息来源: NGO
摘要
日期: 2025年2月11日
地点:
澳大利亚
A migrant (called Jeremiah in the report) from from the Solomon Islands worked in an abattoir in Western Australia. Only after being accepted on the palm scheme did the worker learn they would be assigned to the meat industry, without any choice in the matter or choice on their assignment to specific abattoirs in rural towns. The migrant highlights long hours, and did not get paid for additional 'team lead' responsibilities. He highlights nationality based discrimination in terms of job assignments, and unpaid overtime as an issue and breaches in his contract. He also describes excessive production targets, which causes safety concerns. All participants in the study described having little leisure time, often feeling too exhausted to engage in activities beyond work. A common source of frustration for all workers was the size of deductions from their pay, their lack of prior knowledge about these deductions, and their ongoing difficulty in understanding how deductions were calculated.
信息获取
,
Restricted mobility
,
Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time
,
Wage Theft
,
种族/民族/阶层/出身歧视
,
Contract Substitution
,
Excessive production targets
,
Occupational Health & Safety
回应
回应纪录: 否
信息来源: NGO
摘要
日期: 2025年2月11日
地点:
澳大利亚
A migrant (called Mafu in the report) from from Tonga worked in a "meatworks" in South Australia. Only after being accepted on the palm scheme did the worker learn they would be assigned to the meat industry, without any choice in the matter or choice on their assignment to specific abattoirs in rural towns. The worker did not get paid for additional 'team lead' responsibilities. He describes feelings of inequity due to workers' visa status. All participants in the study described having little leisure time, often feeling too exhausted to engage in activities beyond work. A common source of frustration for all workers was the size of deductions from their pay, their lack of prior knowledge about these deductions, and their ongoing difficulty in understanding how deductions were calculated.
信息获取
,
Restricted mobility
,
Wage Theft
,
种族/民族/阶层/出身歧视
,
Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time
回应
回应纪录: 否
信息来源: NGO
摘要
日期: 2025年2月11日
地点:
澳大利亚
A migrant (called 'Enele' in the report) from from Tuvalu worked at an abattoir in South Australia. Only after being accepted on the palm scheme did the worker learn they would be assigned to the meat industry, without any choice in the matter or choice on their assignment to specific abattoirs in rural towns. Enele highlights he has to wake up early (4am) as he has to drive people to work. He isn't paid for this additional work. He felt ‘forced’ to continue
using the company’s van, for which their are salary deductions. The worker highlights lack of options to complain. Enelle highlights discrimination he experiences relative to other nationalities at the company - he says Pacific Islanders are paid the lowest. He also describes unpaid overtime. All participants in the study described having little leisure time, often feeling too exhausted to engage in activities beyond work. Enele also highlights poor living conditions, including policies prohibiting alcohol. A common source of frustration for all workers was the size of deductions from their pay, their lack of prior knowledge about these deductions, and their ongoing difficulty in understanding how deductions were calculated.
"New RMIT Report Exposes Exploitation of PALM Scheme Workers in Australia's Meat Industry", 11 February 2025
A new report from the RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRIGHT) reveals the severe exploitation faced by migrant workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme in the Australian meat industry.
Restricted freedoms – Workers are tied to a single employer and face immense barriers if they wish to change jobs, reinforcing a system akin to indentured labour.
Severe underpayment – PALM workers earn less than colleagues on other visa schemes, despite often doing the most physically demanding work, a disparity fuelled by racial stereotypes about their strength.
Unpaid work and excessive hours – Many are forced to work unpaid overtime, undertake unpaid leadership roles, or serve as drivers for their colleagues with no extra compensation.
High-cost, low-quality accommodation – Workers are placed in isolated rural areas and forced into overcrowded, high-rent housing with automatic deductions from their wages.
Lack of access to workplace protections – Despite government promises, workers continue to struggle with illegal wage deductions, lack of tenancy rights, and limited representation from their home countries’ attachés.