Perth Hills Italian restaurant first to be named under migrant exploitation laws

A Perth Hills Italian restaurant is the first business in the nation to be banned from employing foreign staff under laws aimed at stopping the exploitation of migrant workers.

The Australian Border Force has named and shamed the Eatalian Ristorante in Glen Forrest, listing it on the new prohibited employer register and hitting the owners with a ban on hiring migrant workers until September 2030, The West Australian can reveal.

It’s the first prohibition notice issued under tough migration law changes that passed last year.

Under the laws, employers found using a person’s immigration status to exploit them in the workplace face fines of up to $118,800, civil prosecution, or being publicly declared a prohibited employer, as in this case.

The company, also known as Eatalian Deli (WA) Pty Ltd, was scrutinised by ABF late last year for misleading information in its migrant worker sponsorship applications and was sanctioned for serious non-compliance, the Government said.

Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill said the public notice should serve as a clear warning to any employer tempted to mistreat their workers.

“Don’t do it. Migrant workers play a key part in the economy; there is no place in Australia for employers who exploit them and you can now be publicly shamed,” he said.

“Every worker in Australia deserves a safe workplace and enjoys the same legal protections. But for too long dodgy employers have been exploiting migrant workers with threats to their visa status.”

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said visa holders had the same workplace rights as all Australian workers, and there were protections for those who called out misbehaviour by employers.

“Exploiting vulnerable migrant workers by not paying them correctly, unlawfully deducting money, and violating workplace protections is particularly concerning conduct that will not be tolerated in Australia. If you exploit your workers you will be found out and called out,” she said.

Border Force officials have been actively scrutinising the status of employer sponsorship agreements with working visa holders.

They’re also carrying out surprise spot checks at workplaces to help protect workers and expose employers exploiting their staff.

ABF Field Operations and Sponsor Monitoring Commander John Taylor said consequences for abusing Australia’s visa regime could be severe.

“We are serious about protecting vulnerable migrant workers; we will not tolerate their abuse and exploitation,” he said.

“This may be the first, but it certainly won’t be the last employer publicly named and sanctioned under the strengthened powers; more are likely to follow.”