Recent research by Unions NSW shows that migrant women in Australia are facing shocking rates of workplace sexual harassment. The study surveyed over 3,000 women across various industries and revealed that 51% of respondents had experienced sexual harassment, with the construction industry rate the highest at 82%.
Respondents also showed that 75% of those who experienced such incidents chose not to report them for fear of losing their job or jeopardising their visa or immigration status. This additional pressure on women resulting from their immigration status makes them prime targets for exploitation, with some of the participants reporting that the harassment only began after their employers or coworkers learned of their uncertain visa status.
The report outlines eight vital recommendations aimed at protecting migrant women and empowering them to report incidents of harassment. These include establishing migrant worker centres to provide support, introducing multicultural education on sexual harassment, and implementing multilingual reporting channels to ensure that victims can disclose their experiences confidentially.
The report also stresses the importance of a legal framework that holds employers accountable for adequately addressing harassment claims.
Despite clear evidence and personal testimonies showing the reality of workplace sexual harassment faced by migrant women, employers and regulators fail to proactively enact meaningful change.
It is vital that all stakeholders—government agencies, employers, and community organizations—work together to create safer and more inclusive workplaces. Without immediate and ongoing action, migrant women will continue to suffer in silence, undermining their well-being and rights as workers in Australia.
Read more: Unions NSW report - Disrespected, Disregarded and Discarded