Migrant workers will suffer because of economic crisis - AWU warns

17 December 2008

Unions have had a positive effect in preventing wage discrimination against migrant workers concentrated in the manufacturing sector, according to a report released on the eve of the UN-declared International Migrant Workers Day (December 18).

Unions best protection for migrant workers

"But migrant workers will suffer more because of the economic crisis - and will be best protected if they are in a union," AWU National Secretary, Paul Howes, said when he released the report.

The report (Click to download 35 page PDF document) is  authored by academics Dr Brian D'Netto and Dr Manjit Monga from the University of South Australia, Dr Jie Shen from Monash University and Dr John Chelliah from University of Technology, Sydney.

Trying to survive

"Too often highly skilled  migrants end up having to do jobs well below their skill levels in order to survive in Australia," Paul Howes said.

"Our union wants to see more training, development and career opportunities provided for workers from different ethnic backgrounds."

Need to be sharper to compete in tough global environment

"At a time when we need to be sharper to compete in a tougher global environment, we need where possible to recognise that many of these workers bring life-skills into the workplace which can be of benefit to enterprises."

The AWU provided support for the research group to enable them to visit 12 enterprises in NSW, Victoria and South Australia to conduct focus groups and  interview migrant workers about the diversity issues they face in the workplace.

Dr Brian D'Netto, Associate Professor, at the University of South Australia's International Graduate School of Business, the principal author of the report, said 92 workers from 28 different ethnic backgrounds participated in the study. The study was funded by a grant from the Centre for Human Resource Management in the Division of Business at the University of South Australia.

Manufacturing industry does not capitalize on workforce diversity

"While overt discrimination does not exist in the Australian manufacturing sector, employers consistently fail to adopt good diversity management practices," Dr D'Netto said.

" Unfortunately the manufacturing sector in this country does not seem to value diversity and as a result has not capitalized on the benefits of workforce diversity.

Social isolation a major challenge

"Management does not use workforce diversity as a source of competitive advantage," Dr D'Netto said.

"Inadequate recognition of overseas skills, lack of fluency in English for many new migrants and social isolation were perceived as the main challenges."