Avoiding exploitation in shift work industries

One risk expert reflected on the importance of systems, checks, and balances to prevent worker exploitation, emphasising that with larger companies, it is “impossible” to manage entitlements manually.

In light of modern slavery concerns following a coronial inquiry into the death of a migrant worker last month, it has never been a better time for organisations to tighten their focus on entitlement compliance to prevent risks of underpayment or unintentional worker exploitation.

Giving back to their families

According to Morgan Harrington, research manager at The Australia Institute, “the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner have identified the PALM scheme as a modern slavery risk”

A lived experience adviser for Domus 8.7, Moe Turaga, told HR Leader last month that many migrant workers travel to Australia to support their families by sending money back overseas.

In a recent report by The Australia Institute, it was found that more than three-quarters of the money earned by workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme in Australia stays in Australia as they are “forced to hand over a large portion of their earnings in tax and expenses”.

Establishing robust systems

SKG Services’ group general manager for risk, Tracey Broers (pictured), spoke with HR Leader about how organisations can prevent exploitation of their workers through systems, checks, and balances.

For Broers, certain industries are more inclined to have higher risks of modern slavery, such as cleaning, maintenance, security, and construction, and it all comes down to the workforce’s demographic, education, and migrant status.

She noted that in these industries, exploitation and modern slavery risks are exacerbated by the greater use of cash payment, long shifts, and migrant workers.

She stressed that organisations must have robust systems to manage award requirements and the “ins and outs” of shift work arrangements, and ensure that everyone checks in at the right time; an impossible task if done manually.

Along with robust systems, Broers emphasised that organisations must implement checks and balances for these systems as well as self-auditing arrangements.

“If we [don’t] have the right systems, the risk of modern slavery incidents would increase,” Broers said.