Research reveals experiences of migrant and refugee women at work

The intersecting challenges of racism, sexual harassment and exploitation in the workplace are affecting migrant and refugee women in Australia at alarming rates.

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) today published a global study examining the serious challenges facing migrant and refugee women in the Australian workplace.

Last year, ANROWS found that almost half (46 percent) of migrant and refugee women had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the past five years. The organization’s latest research builds on these findings and is part of the ANROWS Sexual Harassment Research Program 2021–2024.

The research team, led by Professor Marie Segrave from the University of Melbourne and in collaboration with Harmony Alliance, worked with over 850 migrant and refugee women, gaining quantitative and qualitative insights into the intersecting issues of workplace sexual harassment, racism and exploitation in the workplace.

The results showed that migrant and refugee women consistently reported experiences of sexual harassment alongside racial discrimination and exploitation. This included issues such as unequal pay and working in unsafe environments, as well as both physical and psychological threats to their safety.

In a shocking account to researchers, one participant said that as a migrant worker, his workplace made him feel “so insignificant.”

“I came here eight years ago on a student visa, my first job was in… the hospitality industry… a Mexican fast food restaurant in Melbourne,” the participant said.

“This manager would say hello or goodbye to you and give you a hug that made you feel like he was touching you all over, and you know, at some point it became normal.

“Whenever he felt like it, he would slap you on the ass and make sexual jokes all the time in the workplace. Looking back on it now, I felt so small.”

Another worrying finding from the ANROWS research is that many migrants and refugees do not speak out because they fear negative professional, financial or cultural consequences.

Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine is the CEO of ANROWS. She said the only way to properly address sexual harassment in the workplace is to recognise and address the “interconnected” levels of discrimination faced by migrant and refugee women.

“Feeling safe at work is a fundamental right, yet many migrant and refugee women in Australia are being deprived of this basic safety,” Dr Boyd-Caine said.

“The evidence shows that addressing sexual harassment, racism and exploitative conditions alone is not enough. We must understand that these issues are interconnected if we are to improve the conditions and safety of migrant and refugee women in Australian workplaces.”

Professor Marie Segrave, the author of the study, thanked the brave women who took part in the research and brought these issues to light.

“A key finding of this research is that structural inequalities – such as racism, visa status and employment conditions – amplify the impact of workplace sexual harassment and other forms of abuse and exploitation,” Professor Segrave said.

“Our research draws on the generosity of migrant and refugee women across Australia who have shared their stories and experiences. This research lays the foundation for rethinking siloed response systems and how we can best holistically prioritise women’s safety in the workplace.”

Nyadol Nyuon OAM, Chair of Harmony Alliance, said Australian workplaces need “systemic change” to address the challenges highlighted in the report.

“By highlighting the voices of over 850 migrant and refugee women, this report sheds light on the urgent need to rethink the way we approach workplace safety,” Nyuon said.

“It’s not just about identifying harassment, it’s about creating meaningful, systemic change.”