The most inhospitable place for women workers revealed as survey exposes ‘horrific’ sexual abuse rife

Sexual harassment of migrant women in the workplace is rife with the construction industry proving the most inhospitable, a survey indicates.

A survey of 3388 migrant women conducted by Unions NSW over a year across several industries found more than half (51 per cent) have experienced workplace sexual harassment.

The highest rate was in the construction industry where more than four in five (82 per cent) of respondents reported harassment.

This was followed by 53 per cent in horticulture, 51 per cent in hospitality, 50 per cent in retail and 41 per cent in the cleaning industry.

“Migrants come to Australia to seek opportunity but are instead confronted by horrific workplace exploitation,” secretary of the peak body for unions in NSW Mark Morey said.

“Migrant women are facing sexually suggestive comments, intrusive questions, unwelcome touching and inappropriate physical contact. This is reprehensible. It has to stop.”

Women in this cohort are usually reluctant to report incidents, with 50 per cent saying they were concerned that raising the alarm on sexual harassment could result in losing their job which in turn could affect their visa status.

Nearly a quarter of respondents in the survey, released on Thursday, reported unwelcome touching, hugging, kissing, or invasion of space (23 per cent) and one in five said they had experienced inappropriate physical contact (20 per cent).

The majority of participants were on temporary visas (83 per cent) and came from 55 nations with the top four countries of origin being China, Colombia, Nepal and Brazil.

One woman interviewed alongside the survey, named using the pseudonym Gabriela, described how the owner of the cleaning company she worked for made comments about her appearance, slapped her backside and tried to kiss her.

Another woman, 19-year-old international student Amelia, was driven by her restaurant manager to a secluded location and propositioned for sex in exchange for more shifts.

The survey found women on temporary visas do not think their employers are doing enough to protect them from sexual harassment, with a significant number quitting their jobs because they felt in danger.

A large number of women said when they tried to defend themselves they were hit with repercussions including being fired, having shifts cut and threats of deportation.

The Albanese government issued a world-first Workplace Justice Visa in July enabling migrant workers to stay in Australia while enforcing their labour rights, with in-built protection from having visas cancelled for pursuing justice.

The Unions NSW report recommended strengthening reporting protections for the Workplace Justice Visa to ensure the power imbalance between migrant women and perpetrators does not work against the women.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028