Migrant Labour, Exploitation, and the Law: The Case of Australia

Author: Sayomi Rushini Ariyawansa
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 9781032998497

Published In: August 2026
Format: Hardback
Jurisdiction: U.K. ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

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This book examines the treatment of temporary migrant workers in developed nations, using Australia as a key case study. Within the last 20 years, temporary labour migration programs have proliferated. At the same time, many concerns have been raised about the treatment of temporary migrant workers, including concerns about exploitation. Recent attempts to prevent and address this issue have predominantly focused on employer misconduct. Focusing on the Australian example, this study examines the role of the State in enacting rights restrictions and exclusions based on temporary migrant status, and how this has led to their exploitation within the workplace and community. It begins by unpacking what is meant by the concept of ‘exploitation’ in this context. It then challenges the prevailing narrative that the reliance on temporary migrant labour in several sectors of employment and accompanying concerns about their treatment are contemporary issues by exploring Australia’s labour migration history. It reveals how this history foretells much about the nature of temporary labour migration today. Finally, the book sets out a framework for examining and identifying potential policy responses to the exploitation of temporary migrant workers.

The work will be a valuable resource for researchers, academics and policy-makers working in the areas of Migration Law, Labour Law and Modern Slavery.

1: Introduction

2: Exploitation and Temporary Migrant Workers

3: Temporary Labour Migration in the Shadow of the White Australia Policy

4: Mass Migration and the End of the White Australia Policy

5: Skilled Temporary Labour Migration

6: Low-Skilled Temporary Labour Migration

7: Migration and Criminal Law Responses

8: Labour Law and Supply Chain Measures

9: Conclusion