New service to help international students fight exploitation at work

The announcement comes at the back of a number of cases of international worker exploitation at a number of large and small employers where students were being paid below minimum wage and worked more hours than legally allowed.

The Australian Federal Police and financial institutions say more criminal syndicates are targeting students to become money mules. Source: Getty Images

Victorian government has announced $120,000 for the launch of a new work-related legal support service for international students. The service has been launched at the Study Melbourne Student Centre to  assist students with workplace issues. The funding has been made available from the International Students Welfare Grants Program.

The service aims to ensure awareness among students of their workplace and consumer rights, to help combat unacceptable instances of workplace exploitation.

“The legal support services on offer will help to ensure the welfare of our 175,000 international students living and studying in our community,” said Steve Herbert, Minister for International Education.

“International students come to Melbourne to study and are a long way from home, family and friends. It’s crucial that we support these often vulnerable students to have a positive experience and avoid exploitation.”

“International students come to Melbourne to study and are a long way from home, family and friends. It’s crucial that we support these often vulnerable students to have a positive experience and avoid exploitation,” he added.

The announcement comes at the back of a number of cases of international worker exploitation at a number of large and small employers where students were being paid below minimum wage and worked more hours than legally allowed.

The minister says the state government’s $4 million International Student Welfare Grants Program is supporting new approaches and partnerships to protect student welfare and enhance students experience.

International Education is Victoria’s number one service based export and supports more than 30,000 jobs across the state, generating $5.6 billion dollars for the economy last financial year.