Forced labour

Can you leave?

Forced labour has occurred when a person would not consider themselves to be free to stop or to leave work, because of force or threats, or due to being tricked.

  • Is the person being forced to work?

  • Does the person have a large debt or bond?

  • Is the person a child, or performing work against the law?

  • Is the person unsure of their employment and working conditions?

  • Is the person made to work unusual and/or excessive hours?

  • Is the person subject to dangerous working conditions, such as unsafe work practices, or an unreasonably unhygienic work environment?

  • Is the person living at the workplace or at a place controlled by the employers?

  • Is the employer unable to provide records of wages paid to the person?

 

Case Study

Jai worked as a chef in his home country of India but wages were low and life was difficult. Jai heard stories about the opportunities for a decent job and a good salary in Australia so he was happy to accept a position in a restaurant here especially when his new boss agreed to organise his working visa and pay for his international flight. He would be a restaurant chef in Australia.

But that’s not how it turned out for Jai. His new boss took his passport and forced him to work 12 hours a day from 8am until midnight with limited food and breaks. He was told he would not be paid until he had worked off the cost of the visa, the flight and the board. But Jai was not provided with any accommodation. Instead, he was forced to sleep on the premises where he would be locked in the storeroom at night with no bathroom or kitchen facilities and not released until his boss arrived at the restaurant the next day.

Jai’s story used with kind permission from Anti-Slavery Australia.

 
 

  • What surprised you the most about this case study?

  • What were the signs of forced labour present in this case? Find the signs of forced labour here.

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