Sydney, May 6 (IANS) The Australian government will examine the payslips of thousands of young foreigners with working holiday visas to check labour exploitation in factories and on farms, media reported Wednesday.
The measure was announced after public broadcaster ABC revealed the horrific working conditions of some young foreigners, including instances of sexual assault, Efe news agency reported.
The government was joined in expressing concern about the matter by the opposition, which asked the Fair Work Ombudsman to investigate and submit an interim report within 10 days.
Assistant Minister for Immigration Michaelia Cash said that an audit of payslips and cheques to ensure wages met minimum requirements would reduce opportunities for labour exploitation.
“We amended volunteer work arrangements and we now require payslips to be provided as evidence of work in Australia to obtain a second working holiday visa,” Cash told ABC.
The government will also review visa granting procedures and the links between working holiday visa holders and labour hire firms that earn millions of dollars as intermediaries.
During the last fiscal year ending June 2014, more than 180,000 people were granted working holiday visas.
This type of visa is given to childless people aged between 18 and 30 years from countries including Italy, France, Japan and Britain.