In 2018, Swatin came to Australia from Nepal to pursue a master’s degree, prior to this he was a software developer for 5 years.

After two years as a student, he decided to stay and eventually secured a job at a local software company. For two years, Swatin worked hard, building his career and stability, until the company abruptly closed due to a lack of clients.

Swatin and his colleagues were let go without proper notice. While others received compensation through the Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG), Swatin, as a temporary visa holder, was excluded. “It looks like the laws of Australia do not protect migrants,” he says. “Everybody else was happy and received compensation, but I didn’t get my two weeks’ pay or 4 to 6 months of super.”

Swatin was told by the liquidator he was on a priority list for compensation, but repeated follow-ups went unanswered. The closure couldn’t have come at a worse time—Swatin had just bought a house in Melbourne and was still in Perth planning his move. “I didn’t know how I was going to make my mortgage payments. It was a scary time,” he recalls.

What made the situation worse was the lack of transparency. The company’s owner falsely assured staff that most of them would be hired by another company taking over. Instead, the owner secured a director role at the new company, leaving the employees to fend for themselves.

This issue is compounded by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in Australia. For many migrant workers, living paycheck to paycheck is the reality as they navigate skyrocketing housing costs and increasing everyday expenses.

Without the protection of the FEG, losing a job can have devastating consequences, leaving temporary visa holders unable to pay rent, buy essentials, or meet other financial obligations.