Join other leaders of migrant workers, communities, and organisations on a roundtable to discuss the skills recognition and labour market fairness for migrant workers.

Migrant workers in Australia grapple with a systemic devaluation of their skills, frequently leading to work outside their fields of expertise. Workers with an abundance of talent and experience, are often pushed into riskier jobs with lower pay due to exclusion from the mainstream labour market.

Australia benefits greatly from the contributions of migrant workers, yet we fail to reciprocate with a fair opportunity at safe, well-paying jobs. This dynamic not only places migrant workers in precarious situations but also negatively impacts Australia, as the potential of skilled and experienced workers remains untapped. A radical rethink of our approach is vital to stop the cycle of labour exploitation and under-employment, and avoid the waste of the talent Australia so desperately needs.

At this virtual roundtable, participants will be invited to make contributions around the following key questions:

• What are the common challenges that prevent migrant workers from getting jobs suitable to their qualifications and experience?

• What kind of training or programs would help migrant workers upskill and get better employment?

• What kind of policies would improve migrant workers' competitiveness in the labour market?

These contributions will form the basis for questions put to Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs The Hon. Andrew Giles MP at Day 2 of the MWC Conference 2023.