Sydney Opens $6.5M Center to Protect Migrant Workers

When Samuel Zuluaga complained about being asked to clean toilets at the Sydney barber shop where he worked, his employer fired him on the spot and canceled his visa sponsorship. The 23-year-old Colombian had already endured a year of underpayment and missing superannuation, but speaking up felt too risky when his right to stay in Australia depended on keeping that job.

His story isn't unique. Nearly two-thirds of temporary visa holders across Australia have experienced underpayment, according to a recent Migrant Justice Institute report. International students alone lose more than $60 million in unpaid wages every week.

Zuluaga eventually recovered the money he was owed with support from unions and advocacy services. "It wasn't just about the money," he told SBS News. "It changed my situation and showed me that I wasn't alone."

Now the New South Wales government has launched the state's first dedicated Migrant Workers Centre to help thousands of workers facing similar exploitation. Based in Sydney's CBD with outreach services planned for regional areas, the center will provide workplace safety, legal support, and immigration guidance to vulnerable temporary visa holders.

The facility opened on May 21 with $6.5 million in government funding over four years. Staff expect to support around 2,000 at-risk workers annually through culturally sensitive, community-based services.

Premier Chris Minns made the mission clear. "We want every migrant worker to know that if you are feeling pressured at work, if you've been forced to work for less than minimum wage, if something doesn't feel right, then you can come to the Migrant Worker Centre," he said.

The Ripple Effect

Protecting migrant workers strengthens more than individual lives. Unions NSW president Mark Morey pointed out that Australia's economy depends heavily on temporary visa holders working in farming, retail, hospitality, and construction sectors facing critical labor shortages.

Somali Council of NSW president Ubah Gabris emphasized how many workers simply don't know they're being exploited. "You don't know your rights, you don't know if you have been taken advantage of," she said. "What I love about this kind of space is people can actually come and talk about what they don't know and receive advice, especially legal help."

For Samuel Zuluaga, getting support transformed everything. Workers across NSW now have a dedicated place to find that same hope.