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Immigration department’s biggest problem is getting bigger
According to University of Sydney Business School's Dr Stephen Clibborn, the "biggest problem facing immigration authorities" is the increasing number of undocumented immigrant workers in Australia. There are few signs that anything is being done about it despite the systematic exploitation of these workers by employers, according to a report in the Daily Examiner.
UNDOCUMENTED immigrant workers need the same protections as Australian workers, if Australia is to avoid an American-style problem of mass exploitation of illegal workers, says Dr Stephen Clibborn in a submission to the Abbott government’s Productivity Commission review of workplace relations.
Dr Clibborn's submission has warned that Australia faces "the real risk of passing the tipping point that the United States passed many years ago where exploitation of a large undocumented immigrant workforce becomes the norm in some sectors".
He said while there were no hard figures on the extent of the problem, estimates had tipped at least 100,000 undocumented workers in 2011, which he believes has likely risen, due to an extra 62,700 visa over-stayers recorded in July 2013.
Dr Clibborn said a 2011 review of the system described it as the "biggest problem facing immigration authorities", and the lack of protections for workers, and fear of being exposed, was fertile grounds for exploitation.
He also said the Fair Work laws needed better enforcement.
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