The Migrant Workers Centre is asking Scott Morrison to provide government support in COVID-19 crisis without discrimination based on visas.
Hyeseon Jeong, a research and policy officer for the Migrant Workers Centre stressed that under the circumstances of COVID19, the medical and welfare benefits should be expanded to migrant workers without discrimination.
"To overcome COVID-19 crisis, we need a universal social welfare system where no one is excluded" she said.
According to the Migrant Workers Centre, 10 percent of all Australian workers are migrant workers and international students who are studying in Australia.
Recently, the hospitality service workplace has been closed in COVID-19 crisis and migrant workers have been hit harder because they are mainly worked in this service area as a casual worker.
The Migrant Workers Centre is calling to compensate all workers' wage losses without discrimination based on visas and automatically extend all visas by 12 months to ensure that there is no subsequent disadvantages or deportation.
It also urged that the labour restrictions under various visas should be withdrawn and the bulk-billing health care benefits should be extended to migrant workers. They are asking the temporary suspension of monthly rent, utility payments, loan repayments to those who lose their jobs as well.
Together with Hyeseon Jeong, a research and policy officer for the Migrant Workers Centre, we will talk in detail about the reality and welfare needs faced by migrant workers in the Covid-19 Pandemic situation.
Click the podcast button above to listen to this interview in Korean
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
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