Legal Aid NSW to help Northern NSW workers facing exploitation
3 November, 2025
Northern NSW workers facing issues like underpayment, poor working conditions, workplace discrimination and sexual harassment can get free, specialist legal help from a new workplace rights service launched by Legal Aid NSW.
The Workplace Rights Service (WRS) will provide legal help to people with workplace issues across NSW and has a permanent presence in Coffs Harbour.
The service will be holding an in-person legal advice clinic at Suite 1, ground floor, 27–29 Duke St, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450 from 9.30am to 1pm on Friday 31 October, 2025 with a focus on migrant workers, including farm workers. Those needing help can call (02) 9072 2333 to make an appointment.
Demand for legal assistance is high, with employment law problems consistently one of the top three enquiries made to LawAccess NSW, Legal Aid NSW’s free legal information service. These figures are also likely to be underreported because workers who are more vulnerable to exploitation may not know where they can get help.
Solicitor Giles Fryer said common issues seen by Legal Aid NSW in the Northern NSW region include exploitation of temporary visa holders and farm and meat processing sector workers.
“Migrant workers in industries such as retail, hospitality and agriculture such as fruit pickers in regional areas are particularly vulnerable to underpayment and we often see these workers being forced to work in appalling conditions,” he said.
“We know that there are employers that do not follow the law, and many people are not receiving fair wages or getting payslips or other entitlements like superannuation or casual loading” he said.
“We also know workplace harassment is a significant issue with high rates of sexual harassment reported by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). Common examples of sexual harassment include touching without permission, sexual jokes, and unwanted invitations by text to meet outside of work.”
The Workplace Rights Service is focused on reaching workers in NSW, who are facing difficult and disadvantaged circumstances, including some farm workers, culturally diverse and migrant workers, young people under 21, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“We urge people to seek advice about their employment. We can help people stand up for their workplace rights, and against exploitation. We can help you recover what you might be entitled to.”
The Workplace Rights Service can be contacted via LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529.
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