Temporary visa holders in New South Wales now have access to a dedicated Migrant Workers Centre designed to support those experiencing workplace exploitation, unsafe conditions and underpayment.

The initiative responds to growing concerns about the vulnerability of migrant workers, many of whom depend on employer sponsorship for their visa status, which can discourage them from speaking out about poor treatment.

The story highlights the experience of Samuel Zuluaga, a young migrant worker from Colombia who arrived in Sydney on a temporary visa and found employment at a barber shop.

Although he initially believed the job would provide stability, he later experienced underpayment, missed superannuation contributions and alleged unfair treatment.Fearing that raising concerns could jeopardise his visa, he hesitated to speak up.

Eventually, after losing his job and visa sponsorship following a workplace dispute, he received support from unions and advocacy services to recover unpaid wages.

His case reflects broader findings from a Migrant Justice Institute report, which suggested nearly two-thirds of surveyed temporary visa holders in Australia had experienced underpayment.

The report also estimated international students alone lose tens of millions of dollars in wages each week, with many workers engaged under contractor or ABN arrangements that may reduce protections.Limited English proficiency, lack of awareness of workplace rights and difficulty accessing support services were identified as key risk factors.In response, the NSW government has committed $6.5 million over four years to establish the centre, which aims to assist around 2,000 vulnerable workers annually.Based in Sydney with outreach services planned for regional areas, the centre will provide workplace, safety and immigration-related support.

Government and community leaders say the service will help migrant workers better understand and enforce their rights, ensuring they receive lawful pay and conditions.