Australian authorities have launched a nationwide crackdown on the misuse of training visas, with more than 100 workplaces already inspected amid concerns migrant workers are being exploited through fraudulent training arrangements.
The operation, led by the Australian Border Force and the Department of Home Affairs, is targeting employers using the Training (subclass 407) visa program for ongoing labour rather than genuine workplace training and professional development.
In the first month alone, ABF officers carried out more than 100 site visits across regional Australia, spanning six states and territories, including inspections in Darwin, Townsville, Griffith, Ballarat, Canberra, Margaret River and the Gold Coast.
The four-month national operation will eventually cover more than 200 workplaces, with authorities focusing heavily on regional areas where concerns about exploitation and visa misuse have emerged.
Early findings have already uncovered compliance issues, including businesses lacking genuine training plans and migrant trainees being placed into jobs unrelated to their approved visa training programs.
ABF Commander John Taylor said authorities would take a hard line against employers exploiting migrant workers under the training visa system.
“We have zero tolerance for the exploitation of migrants on training visas,” Taylor said.
“These visas are for genuine skills development, not for employers to misuse or underpay workers.”
Taylor said ABF officers were now applying increased scrutiny to sponsors to ensure training arrangements were legitimate and workers were not being mistreated.
“Sponsors who fail to meet their obligations, or who seek to exploit trainees, can expect strong compliance and enforcement action,” he said.
The Training (subclass 407) visa is designed to allow structured workplace-based occupational training and professional development, not permanent or ongoing employment.
Authorities revealed that in the 2025–26 financial year to April 30, about 55 per cent of subclass 407 visa applications were either refused or withdrawn — a figure officials say reflects growing scrutiny by immigration authorities as well as concerns over the quality and legitimacy of some applications.
The operation is being conducted in partnership with the Fair Work Ombudsman, with inspectors interviewing employers and migrant trainees to verify whether workplace training programs are genuine.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth warned employers they remained legally responsible for ensuring visa holders received lawful pay and workplace entitlements.
“We know there are large numbers of potentially vulnerable workers undertaking a range of duties under these training visa arrangements, and employers must ensure these workers receive all their lawful pay and entitlements,” Booth said.
“Protecting migrant workers is a priority for the Fair Work Ombudsman.”
She also reminded migrant workers that visa status did not remove workplace protections under Australian law.
“Migrant workers should remember they have the same workplace rights under the Fair Work Act as all other employees in Australia, and protections are in place for their visas if they report workplace breaches to us,” Booth said.
Authorities said exploiting visa holders, including unpaid trainees, could lead to significant penalties under the Migration Act, including heavy fines and imprisonment.
The Department of Home Affairs said the operation formed part of a broader effort to strengthen integrity within the training visa system, remove non-genuine sponsors and ensure migrant workers receive a “fair go” in Australian workplaces.
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