One in six migrant workers are 'exploited', but many Australians are also paid below the national minimum wage

One in six migrants are paid less than the national minimum wage according to a new report by the Grattan Institute, which says governments have failed to stop exploitation of migrant workers with sexual harassment, bullying, and unsafe working conditions also rife. Key points: Between 3-9 per cent of Australian workers are paid less than the minimum wage Those aged 20-29 are nearly six times more likely to be underpaid than those aged 30-39 Migrant workers were 40 per cent more likely to be underpaid than long-term Australian residents The report suggests between 5 per cent and 16 per cent of employed recently arrived migrants – or between 27,000 and 82,000 workers – are paid below the national minimum wage of $21.38, compared to up to 9 per cent of all Australian workers. Underpayment also a big problem for Australian workers, but migrants at higher risk Grattan's report estimates that between 3 per cent and 9 per cent of all employees are paid below the national minimum wage. 100,000 migrants have no work rights, guarantee they have them Grattan points out in its report there are also an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 migrants without work rights, including 'undocumented workers', working in Australia.