‘Exploitation of international students getting worse in Australia’

A legal service available to students says the abuse has become systemic as the exploiting employers have changed their business model.

A 7-Eleven store in Brisbane. Source: AAP

Merely bringing the rampant exploitation of international students to the light has not been of much help to them, Redfern Legal Centre has told The Australian.

Redfern is one of the few legal services available to international students.

Last year, a Fairfax and ABC 7:30 investigation had exposed the exploitation of International students, mainly Indian, by 7-Eleven convenience store chain.

The centre has said that even as the media spotlight prompted the government action against such dodgy employers, but the effect had been limited as they have changed their business model to evade scrutiny.

Sean Stimson, a solicitor at Redfern, said the businesses manipulated visa arrangements to perpetuate the abuse.

“An employer will try to push a student to a position where they are in breach of visa conditions. Once there is a breach, they basically hold the student to ransom,” Mr. Stimson told the Australian.

Mr. Stimson named a few industries that he termed as the worst offender, among them were cleaning, hospitality and construction companies.

He said students faced exploitation even at the hands of owners of accommodations they rented, who routinely withheld bonds until students left the country.

Last month, the Victorian government set up a fund of $120,000 to help international students fight workplace exploitation. More recently, StudyNSW earmarked $250,000 to help international students with legal and employment issues.

But Mr. Stimson says the exploitation had become systemic.

“I would say we’re seeing at least a 50 percent increase in that type of systemic issue.”

The Executive director of International Education Association of Australia, Phil Honeywood said international students mostly exploited by businesses of their own ethnic background.

 “Cultural exploitation (allows) elders to play havoc with their own young people, who respect advice from seniors. Often it’s much better to deal with so-called experts from a background other than your country,” The Australian quoted him as saying.

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