NSW Premier Chris Minns has launched a new Migrant Workers Centre along with $6.5 million in funding that will provide “culturally sensitive” support.
About 2,000 immigrant workers per year are expected to be helped by new centre, which has an office in Sydney’s CBD and “statewide outreach”, the NSW government said on Thursday.
The centre will help protect migrant workers in metro, regional, rural and remote communities who are vulnerable to underpayment, unsafe conditions and exploitation, and give them “culturally sensitive, community-connected support”.
Mr Minns spoke at the launch of the centre at the Trades Hall in Sydney along with Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper, Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis, and Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey.
“Every worker in NSW deserves to be safe at work, paid properly and treated fairly, regardless of their background,” Mr Minns said.
“This new centre will help workers understand their rights, get support when something goes wrong, and help stamp out exploitation in industries where vulnerable workers can too easily be taken advantage of.
“When workers are exploited, it drives down conditions for everyone. That’s why this is about protecting standards, fairness and lawful workplaces across NSW.”
Ms Cotsis said the $6.5 million in funding was part of $127.7 million committed over four years to SafeWork NSW for safer workplaces, and also covered the deployment of an additional 20 “dedicated psychosocial inspectors”.
Mr Kamper said “hardworking migrants have helped build out state into what it is today”, while Mr Morey said the centre was “an important next step towards dismantling the systemic exploitation of migrant workers”.
Header image: Chris Minns launching the centre (SBS).
