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New migrants better skilled but still exploited, according to a new book by VU academic

Book Cover: From Factory Fodder to Multicultural Mediators

Immigrants to Australia still face a greater degree of exploitation and marginalisation at work than Australian-born workers, despite a growth in the number and skill levels of migrants employed, according to a new book by Associate Professor Santina Bertone of Victoria University’s Faculty of Business and Law. Titled “From Factory Fodder to Multicultural Mediators”, Dr. Bertone’s book looks at the changing work experiences of immigrant workers in Australia from the 1980s through to the 21st century, describing the new and emerging patterns of migrant employment, from unskilled to highly skilled jobs, while taking into account the degree of job regulation in each sector.

“Migrants have made an enormous contribution to Australia’s population and economic development,” said Dr. Bertone. “Without the post-war immigration, Australia’s population would be 9 million rather than 20 million. Today, immigrants make up 24% of the Australian population, arriving from some 200 countries around the world, and 70% of migration intakes are highly skilled.”

Based on survey data and interviews with immigrants across the occupational spectrum, the book finds that the working patterns and concerns of immigrants continue to differ from those of the native workforce. Issues of exploitation and work intensification, through to more subtle concerns about under-employment and blocked career paths continue to characterise the working lives of Australian immigrant workers. Overall, however, immigrants' occupational status is improving within this rapidly changing economic and structural context.

“As the book title suggests, migrants have come a long way in the kinds of work they perform,” she said. “Whereas once they were found mostly in 3D jobs – dirty, dangerous and difficult – migrants are now spread across industries and the whole occupational spectrum, and, just like Australian-born workers, have to negotiate a minefield of choices, such as individual contracts versus collective agreements.”

Yet Dr. Bertone found that migrant work experiences are not all the same as those of the Australian-born, and some work patterns (both at the lower and higher end of the job spectrum) are virtually exclusive to migrants. Problems of over-qualification and non-recognition of skills, language and cultural barriers, together with more subtle issues of stereotyping persist at all levels, as do low pay, job insecurity and insufficient work for migrants in low skill jobs.

“Although we’ve come a long way, there is still much to be done to ensure that our migrant workforce can realise its potential, so the country can get the most out of them and their skills,” she said.

The research is significant given the changing industrial relations landscape in Australia, as well as the increasing emphasis on skilled immigration, as major economic restructuring (well before the current global crisis) has changed the nature and supply of jobs for all Australians, and particularly for migrants. Dr. Bertone is no stranger to this kind of research, having gained a string of research grants over the years to study immigrant work issues, and this book is the culmination of her PhD studies into the area.

In addition to her ongoing role as Associate Dean (Research and Research Training) in the Faculty of Business and Law, Dr. Bertone is continuing her research studies with postdoctoral fellow Dr. Beata Leuner, both of them working together on a three year project looking at ethnic and religious discrimination in employment in Australia, UK and Canada.

Dr. Bertone has also recently completed a chapter on the labour market for a forthcoming sequel to the 1991 book, “Nations of Immigrants”, in which she compares Australian and US policies on immigration. She has also published her thoughts on the implications of immigration for community harmony in “Social Cohesion in Australia” (Cambridge University Press). “From Factory Fodder to Multicultural Mediators” is published by VDM Verlag and distributed on Amazon.com.

Contact:	Ashley Sievwright Faculty of Business and Law
Phone:	+61 3 9919 1553
Email:	ashley.sievwright@vu.edu.au