More than 31,000 workers from 10 island nations have signed up for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme to work across the country in roles employers cannot fill.
Regarded as one of Australia's flagship development programs for the Pacific, employees fill jobs in industries such as agriculture, meat processing and aged care while also providing workers with desperately needed income to send home.
However, a survey of 370 PALM scheme workers by the Migrant Justice Institute found widespread issues, with many fearing retaliation for speaking up.
The study found more than 64 per cent of workers would change employers after being underpaid and facing unsafe working conditions, however the majority kept their silence because they were afraid to lose their jobs.
Another 33 per cent were worried about causing problems for co-workers, and 32 per cent were afraid they would be given fewer hours or even more challenging work.
One in four were afraid of never being allowed to return to Australia.
"Palm workers can't talk because they don't have any right this is due to the visa status Palm workers are holding," a Fijian worker from NSW said.
"They can't leave their work if they find hardship at work."
A Queenslander worker agreed, telling researchers they "did as they were told".
"(We) take whatever you're given and be thankful that you're given a job with good money, compared to what you get in Fiji," she said.
Workers can access a dedicated help line within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Country Liaison Officers from their home governments.
However, the survey found that these safeguards are ineffective.
"Unless workers have the possibility to change employers when things go wrong, they won't speak up," said associate Professor Laurie Berg, Co-Director of Migrant Justice Institute.
"Fear of losing their job, and their ability to participate in the program and return, are powerful forces keeping them silent - 97 per cent of workers in our survey want to work in Australia again."
"The federal government has allocated significant resources to worker support in the PALM scheme, but these initiatives are not empowering workers to come forward with concerns about working conditions or even workplace safety."
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