Immigration Minister Andrew Giles says the planned changes help workers and the broader economy.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The move follows the recent review of the migration program that found it failed to attract the most highly skilled migrants and failed to deliver businesses efficient access to workers.
“At the same time,there is clear evidence of systemic exploitation and the risk of an emerging permanently temporary underclass,” it found.
Research by the independent Grattan Institute think tank last month warned exploitation of migrant workers was rife,finding up to 16 per cent of recent migrants were paid less than the national minimum wage.
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It argued many exploited workers feared raising their concerns with authorities and when employers were found to have done the wrong thing they faced minor penalties.
Under the government’s planned changes,it will be a criminal offence to coerce a person into breaching their visa conditions.
Employers found to have exploited migrants will be barred from hiring more people on temporary visas.