Migrant Labour, Exploitation, and the Law

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.