Warning: Distressing Content
In Australia, over half of the women on temporary visas have been sexually harassed at work.
According to recent research by Unions NSW, only 25 per cent of those women reported the abuse.
Construction, hospitality, horticulture, cleaning and retail were listed as some of the most unsafe industries with bosses and managers being the most common perpetrators.
Women who did report the abuse were punished with bullying, wage cuts, threats of deportation or termination of employment.
Professor Marie Segrave from the University of Melbourne, who has researched sexual harassment against migrant and refugee women in Australia, said most women felt their safety would be more threatened without employment.
This fear of losing financial security or residency led to many women "managing" the abuse against them instead of reporting.
While governments, along with the Australia Human Rights Commission, are implementing legislation to keep women safer at work, Prof Segrave said reform is just one part of the solution.
"We need to have more complex ways of thinking about different women's experiences of safety, different ways of thinking about supporting women and creating safety around this.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual harassment or assault call 1800RESPECT or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
