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Worker rights

​​​​All workers in Australia have rights and protections at work. People from overseas working in Australia also have these workplace rights. As an employer of an overseas worker, you must obey all Australian immigration and workplace laws. 

Employers do not have the power to cancel a visa or change a visa or visa conditions. Only the Australian Government can grant or cancel a visa. ​

Rates of pay and workplace conditions

As an employer of workers from overseas you must provide:

  • at least the minimum wage or the relevant 'market salary rate' (for sponsored visas)
  • payslips, superannuation and tax documents to the employee
  • a safe workplace
  • legal pay rates, leave conditions, shift arrangements and dismissal processes to which Australian employees would be entitled.

Learn more about your legal responsibilities to overseas workers at the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The Fair Work Ombudsman gives you information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, dismissal notices and redundancy entitlements. See the pay and conditions tool.