Using social media to improve temporary migrant workers' access to information about their employment rights

The exploitation of temporary migrant workers (TMWs) employed in Australia has been well documented by academics, government enquiries, and the Fair Work Ombudsman [FWO], the Federal government agency responsible for enforcing wage compliance. That exploitation encompasses underpayment of wages through to unpaid wages, and includes exposure to occupational health and safety risks, sexual harassment, overcrowded and unhygienic accommodation facilities, wage deduction scams, and a failure to provide income support to injured TMWs (Doyle and Howes 2015; Australian Senate 2016; FWO 2016; Mares 2016; Underhill and Rimmer 2016; Victorian Government 2016; Berg and Farbenblum 2017; Clibborn 2018; Howe et al. 2018). In horticulture, the rapid increase in TMWs following the expansion of the Working Holiday Visa scheme in 2005, and the expansion in the supply of undocumented workers has combined to produce a workforce which is easily exploited. Rural employment has traditionally been difficult for trade unions to organise, and these difficulties are compounded with TMWs, many of whom face significant language barriers and have a poor understanding of Australian employment rights.