Australia's seasonal worker schemes are being likened to modern slavery, with a group of Pacific workers in Queensland's Bundaberg region speaking out against their pay and living conditions.
The 18 workers, who are employed by several labour hire firms, met with a lawyer in Bundaberg to discuss their grievances.
"We've been involved in other cases of exploited workers, but I've seen nothing quite as bad as what's happening at the moment," said lawyer Stewart Levitt.
"It's so widespread. It's so heartless."
Willie* came to Australia under the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) in January last year to make money and support his five children in Vanuatu.
He said hundreds of dollars were deducted from his pay each week for expenses, including accommodation and transport to work on farms.
"Sometimes, you only end up with $200. How can you survive with that," he said.
"When I send the money home, I haven't got none."
Despite a national labour shortage in the horticulture industry, some workers said they were only working half a day, and their income was not covering their expenses.
Treated like 'slaves'
Mr Levitt said he had received a report of one Bundaberg employer issuing fines of $500 for drinking alcohol outside of work hours.
"They're threatened with fines if they consume alcohol. They're banned from having any sexual relationships with people," he said.
The workers complained about their living conditions at backpacker hostels, where they said kitchen and cooking facilities were broken and they had to deal with outbreaks of bed bugs.
"During the night, I can't sleep because of the bed bugs," Willie said.
"We expected to live in separate rooms, but we came, and we had to share rooms," said another Vanuatu worker named Alice*.
"It's like three people in one room, and then we're paying more than we expected."
The ABC contacted the hostels, who said they undertook monthly pest control, and the accommodation was approved by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment under the former Seasonal Worker Program.
The Pacific and Seasonal Worker Programs have now been rolled into the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme.
A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said hostel accommodation previously approved under the SWP would not be re-approved following the program's integration into the PALM scheme.
"Accommodation standards are currently being considered as part of stakeholder consultation for the new PALM scheme Deed and Guidelines," they said.
The spokesperson said any worker with concerns about their workplace, accommodation or safety is strongly encouraged to contact a 24/7 worker welfare hotline on 1800 51 51 31.
Senate hearing into job security
Pastoral carer Geoffrey Smith is expected to raise concerns about the scheme during a Senate hearing this week.
"I'm suggesting blackbirding has never finished and I'm also suggesting slavery hasn't finished either," he said.
The workers have called for reforms, including additional support on farms to help them better understand their work agreements.
"We're really doing our best, and then we're friendly, we're open. We come here to help and to make money and help our families as well," said Alice.
A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said worker welfare was at the core of the new (PALM) scheme.
"Approved Employers of seasonal workers must appoint a Welfare and Wellbeing Support Person to help seasonal workers understand their role," they said.
"The Support Person must be within 300km of the workers and be able to respond quickly to any issues or questions that arise."
Potential for legal action
Mr Levitt believes there are grounds for a class action against some of Australia's biggest labour hire firms.
"There are some exceptions to the rule. Perhaps 10 or 20 per cent of labour hire firms or employers are doing the right thing," he said.
"But overwhelmingly, they're being exploited, and they're being exploited right across Australia."
* Names changed for privacy reasons
