Key Points
- Only six per cent of humanitarian migrants find jobs within six months of being in Australia, according to the Australian Institute of Family.
- A 2023 report by the Grattan Institute found five to 16 per cent of recent migrants in Australia were paid less than minimum wage.
- It estimated that ‘those who arrived in Australia within the past five years are twice as likely to be substantially underpaid as long-term residents’.
Amir Ansari, a business owner, started his journey to Australia in 2013 on a boat.
This voyage only became more difficult, he said, when he felt he was being taken advantage of job after job.
“I came here for freedom, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression,” he told SBS Persian.
“And I thought it would be much easier; I would come to Australia and continue the job I had the skills for … But it was harder than expected and I felt let down.”
Amir Ansari working as an electrician in Australia. Credit: Supplied
Ansari started his career as an electrician in Iran when he was 13. However, it took him several years to find the same job in his new home in Australia.
After spending two years in a refugee camp on Christmas Island, he arrived in Melbourne at the age of 26. In 2017, his case was accepted, and his new visa granted him the right to work and study in Australia.
‘If they find out you came with a boat’
Even though he legally had the right to work in Australia, he said he faced many issues finding a job as a refugee.
“If they (employers) find out that you came here by boat, it makes finding a job harder,” he said.
“I felt discriminated against because I’m a refugee; this is a reality. We are refugees, English is our second language, and then there is discrimination.”
John Glass, CEO of Mas National, an organisation delivering employment support services, said refugees and asylum seekers like Ansari “often encounter significant hurdles, such as language barriers, unrecognised qualifications and gaps in their employment history”.
“We recognise the unique challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers in the Australian job market,” he told SBS Persian.
According to the Australian Institute of Family, only six per cent of humanitarian migrants find jobs after being in Australia for six months. This number increases to 23 per cent after 30 months.
It took Ansari over five years to find his first job in Australia.
‘I earned $15 per hour’
However, finding a job was not the happy ending Ansari expected. He said he experienced worker exploitation in several jobs in Australia.
He claimed that in his first job in 2017, his employer paid him in cash and way below minimum wage.
“I earned $15 per hour in cash. The employer knew I was a refugee … I had to do these jobs for my apprenticeship, and the employers took advantage. For instance, one employer made me do tasks I was not responsible for and paid for, and another didn’t pay my superannuation,” he said.
“If I were not a refugee, there would’ve been no way they could’ve done this to me. They already knew I had experience for the job.”
According to a 2023 report by the Grattan Institute, five to 16 per cent of recent migrants in Australia were paid less than minimum wage. This compares with three to nine per cent of all employees being paid below the national minimum wage.
It estimated that “those who arrived in Australia within the past five years are twice as likely to be substantially underpaid as long-term residents”.
‘I can relate this to just being a refugee’
Parastoo Khosronejad, Pathways Counsellor at the Community Migrant Resource Centre, said worker exploitation for refugees in Australia is a major concern.
She said “lack of knowledge” and “helplessness” are some of the reasons that make refugees and asylum seekers more vulnerable.
“Some people have to find a job to support themselves. Some employers, in particular, take advantage of people with little job experience,” she said.
“Refugees are sometimes under pressure to find a job as soon as possible, and sometimes they don’t pay attention to the legal details.”
Sara (name withheld for privacy reasons) said she had experiences similar to those of Ansari and other refugees.
“To be honest, sometimes I feel like I’m still being exploited in my job. I don’t know if I’m getting paid less because I am a refugee or because I don’t have any experience,” she told SBS Persian.
According to the Grattan Institute report, visa rules, especially for temporary visa-holders, make migrants more vulnerable.
“I can relate this to just being a refugee. Many jobs don’t accept you because you are on a bridging visa, and you may leave Australia at any moment. And if they accept you, sometimes the pay is less,” Sara said.
“Some people don’t expect refugees to be able to be successful. I think that is one of the reasons that refugees are trying so hard to build their lives and businesses so they can prove themselves and show the citizens that they are worth it.”
‘I came on a boat and I’m serving the community’
Ansari said he is on a mission to prove the doubters wrong.
“I came here for freedom, and having a business helped me reach this freedom,” he said.
After arriving in Australia, he completed his apprenticeship in four years and is now a fully qualified tradesman running his own business as an electrician.
Amir Ansari working as an electrician in Australia. Credit: Supplied
In his new business, Ansari said he is trying to hire refugees and immigrants with similar experiences to help with their apprenticeships.
“It was very difficult for me to get here. I know many people with similar problems, and I want to give them a chance,” he said.
“My main goal is to show that we are not bad (people). I came with a boat, and I served the community. Australia gave me asylum, and now I want to use my skills to help the community.”
