New WA study to examine working conditions for migrants

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Created on Tuesday, 06 March 2012 17:00

Written by Editorial staff

Western Australia's Institute for Medical Research has launched a new study into the working conditions of migrant workers in Australia compared with native-born workers.

The new Immigrant Workers' Occupational Health Study will be carried out by a research team from WA in conjunction with a team from the Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in Glasgow, Scotland and researchers from the University of Melbourne.

The first part of the survey will involve dialogue between researchers and members of various migrant communities - and will establish any concerns about workplace safety, as well as creating a sense of community engagement that will facilitate participation in the study.

Next, information will be collected through questionnaires and focus groups to determine the specific hazards workers from other countries may face while on the job in Australia.

Alison Reid, an associate professor at the WA Institute for Medical Research, told the ABC that the study will provide much-needed updates to decades-old information about migrant workers.

"A study was done about 30 years ago that showed migrant workers in Australia have higher fatalities at work than Australian-born workers, but this work hasn't been update since," she explained.

Researchers assert that according to international literature, migrant workers may face greater exposure to hazards in the workplace - and as a result, could suffer from more accidents and injuries on the job.

It is hoped that by identifying the specific issues posed to migrant workers in Australian workplaces, targeted interventions can be held to reduce the number of accidents suffered by migrants at work and cut down on their exposure to risks.

"We are interested in talking to people about physical risks such as exposure to chemicals or asbestos," Professor Reid told the ABC.

She added that the study would also place emphasis on any psycho-social hazards experienced in the workplace, "including the stresses which arise from racism, bullying and job insecurity".

Complying with the conditions of migration visas is a two-way effort - employers and employees have specific obligations they must fulfil.

According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, employers of migrant workers must comply with all Australian laws, as well as national standards for working conditions and wages.

In some cases - including applications for visa subclasses 121 and 856 - businesses may need to provide additional information to the DIAC, including any current training strategies in place for employees and a satisfactory record of compliance with Australian immigration laws.