Unions have called for Australia's migration program to favour people on permanent visas as part of a plan to stamp out the exploitation of cheap imported labour.
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The Australian Council of Trade Unions unveiled a plan on Thursday calling for changes to the way temporary visa workers are treated.
An "underclass" of easily exploited temporary visa holders make up one in 10 of Australia's workforce and undercut local jobs, the trade union peak body claims.
"Australia's migration program must, as it did previously, favour permanent migration, so people can come to Australia with their family and build a life for themselves - with the same rights that we all deserve," ACTU secretary Sally McManus said.
The ACTU also wants to ensure local workers get the opportunity to be trained and employed locally and see more funding for TAFE.
Under the plan, temporary work visas would only be used in cases of genuine skills shortages.
"We need to change the rules so employers are forced to advertise locally, and only able to import workers for genuine skills shortages," Ms McManus said.
Temporary visa workers should also be paid market rates and be guaranteed the same rights as other employees.
"All workers, no matter where they are from, should have the right to be paid properly, have basic job security and to be safe at work," Ms McManus said.
The federal government last week gave a six-month extension to the Migrant Workers' Taskforce, which provides advice on how to prevent exploitation.
New laws to protect vulnerable workers came into place in September last year following revelations of exploitation by some 7-Eleven franchisees.
Australian Associated Press
