Australia introduced last week A new visa that was already giving hope to migrant workers who are battling for justice against exploitation a leading legal advocate says.
(subclass 408)If granted, the workplace justice visa lets a migrant worker without any other legal avenue to stay in Australia, remain in the country for up to 12 months (1 year) to fight an active workplace claim.
The new visa system Since it went live on July 24, Human Rights Law Centre’s principal lawyer Sanmati Verma has been busy more applications for three stressed migrant workers
Under this law Migrant worker hopes measure will be good for self-respect
Ms Verma says Among those she has helped is a woman with a long-running sexual harassment claim against her former employer and company.
She had no other avenue to stay in Australia past August and had been preparing to leave the country in defeat.
What do we know about the new visa?
The new visa gives the applicant full working rights available for between six and 12 months.
Applicants can re-apply for it if they need to.
The federal government has also brought in a protection against visa cancellation when a worker alleges exploitative or abusive behaviour against their employer.
Both the visa and protections are being trialled for two years.
