Laura Denby, a British expat, recently shared her story about a concerning loophole in Australia’s workplace laws that left her without $40,000 in entitled wages while her coworkers were compensated. Denby’s journey began when she moved to Australia from England six years ago on a working holiday visa, eventually securing a job as an IT business analyst at Xam Consulting in Sydney. As the company began sponsoring her skilled visa application for permanent residency, Denby was optimistic about her future plans, including purchasing a home and starting a family.
However, Denby’s life took an unexpected turn when Xam Consulting abruptly went into liquidation, catching her and the other employees off guard. The sudden closure left Denby and her colleagues facing a grim reality, with no prior warning before being informed of the dire situation by liquidators.
Amidst the chaos, Denby learned about the Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme, a safety net designed to protect Australian citizens, permanent residents, and select visa holders when companies go under. Despite her temporary skilled visa status, Denby discovered that she was not eligible to receive any compensation under the scheme, leaving her in a precarious financial position.
The emotional and financial toll of the situation became evident as Denby shared her struggles with stress, illness, and the challenges of finding a new job while dealing with the aftermath of Xam Consulting’s closure. Despite eventually securing a new position through a former colleague, Denby felt compelled to advocate for change due to the unfair treatment faced by migrant workers like herself who had made significant contributions to the Australian economy.
In an effort to address the issue, Denby launched an online petition urging the government to amend the law to include temporary workers in the Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme. She highlighted the importance of supporting migrant workers during times of crisis, emphasizing the need for equitable treatment in the workforce.
While the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations expressed that migrant workers were entitled to priority payment of owed employee entitlements in certain circumstances, Denby’s personal experience shed light on the gaps in the system that left temporary workers vulnerable and unprotected in the face of company insolvency.
As Denby navigates the challenges of restarting her permanent residency application and adjusting to the setbacks caused by Xam Consulting’s closure, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and injustices within Australia’s current workplace laws. Moving forward, Denby remains hopeful for change that will provide greater security and support for migrant workers in similar situations, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable system that values the contributions of all individuals in the workforce.