Date: 3 Dec 2018
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
Unlike most farmers, Emma Germano is prepared to say openly what others won’t: that the use of undocumented workers on Australia’s farms is rampant and significant change is needed.
''It’s not a secret to anyone there is a black economy and there are a number of workers that are undocumented and living in the country,'' she says.
It is estimated there are up to 100,000 undocumented workers in Australia, many of them from south-east Asia.
Undocumented workers are regularly underpaid, exploited by middlemen and burdened with excessive debts.
When Rayyan* came to work in Australia from Malaysia he was promised by a middleman a good wage, safe accommodation and predictable hours.
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