Update August 16, 2024: As previously
reported, the Australian government started implementing the
Workplace Justice (subclass 408 visa) pilot program on July 1,
2024. The program allows temporary migrants who have faced
workplace exploitation to remain in Australia for six to 12 months,
with a possibility to extend for up to four years, to pursue
workplace justice activities (such as criminal or civil proceedings
where the individual was a victim of worker exploitation) at no
cost. Applicants must present a certification issued by a
government-authorized entity that may attest to a matter of
workplace exploitation. The authorities define ‘matters of
workplace exploitation' to include the following:
underpayment or non-payment of wages or other workplace
entitlements; unlawful, unpaid or underpaid training or trials;
up-front payment or deposit for a job; misclassification of workers
as independent contractors instead of employees; unlawful
deductions from wages;
