A national survey of thousands of migrant women has found more than half have been sexually harassed while working. Most of them have never formally reported the incidents out of fear it would negatively impact their visa status.
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00:00Lin moved from Vietnam to Sydney to study social work five years ago.
00:07Can I please get a latte to have here?
00:09But her student visa status and need for part-time work left her vulnerable.
00:14When she asked for extra shifts, she was preyed upon by her boss.
00:18He said to me, I just want to help you, I just want to kiss you, I just want to have fun with you.
00:243,000 migrant women have shared their stories in a national report led by Unions NSW that was launched today.
00:31Thank you to all of you women who have contributed to this report.
00:36One in five women on a visa, a temporary visa, reported sexual harassment.
00:4175% of them said that they did not report it for fear of repercussions.
00:46The highest rates were in the construction industry, followed by horticulture, hospitality, retail and cleaning.
00:53Three quarters of workers surveyed didn't formally report the harassment to police or authorities,
00:59mostly because they feared it would affect their visa or future prospects in Australia.
01:05We know that under-reporting of harmful behaviour is rife across Australian workplaces.
01:10This is safe space at Elevate.
01:12Lawyer Prabha Nandakapol specialises in workplace culture reform.
01:16What's really important is that migrant women are provided safe and accessible reporting options,
01:23such as anonymous reporting pathways.
01:26The report recommends establishing independent migrant worker centres in all states.
01:32The Federal Government is considering the report's findings.