The Support Network for International Students (SNIS) has launched a new campaign to challenge the reimposition of the work-hours cap for international students in Australia. The SCRAP the CAP! campaign aims to amplify the voices of international students and the sector as a whole, who have been utilized by the Australian government during the pandemic.
Background: Support for International Students
SNIS was launched in September 2020 to consolidate the calls for reforms in the Australian international education system and better protect the rights and welfare of international students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SNIS provided support to international students through emergency food packages, case work, community education, lobbying for government aid, and other advocacy activities.
The SCRAP the CAP! Campaign
During the pandemic, the federal government removed the work-hours cap to address skills and labour shortages, allowing international students to work more than 40 hours per fortnight. SNIS is now spearheading the SCRAP the CAP! campaign to challenge the reimposition of the cap, arguing that international students have saved the Australian economy during one of its most difficult times.
The campaign aims to permanently lift the work-hours cap to give international students the same rights as other workers in the country. This will help avoid wage theft and workplace abuses that are endemic in the international student community.
The Facts Speak for Themselves
According to SNIS, there are currently 620,000 international students in Australia, who have long been treated as a source of income and labour for the country. International education is worth $40.3 billion a year and creates 250,000 jobs. However, students are left to struggle with ever-increasing course fees, predatory landlords, and education agents. Additionally, wage theft from international students is endemic, with a 2021 survey revealing that 77 percent were paid below the minimum casual hourly wage.
Show Your Support
The SCRAP the CAP! campaign is currently holding a series of activities, including online petitions, videos, open letters, lobbying, and protests. SNIS encourages everyone to show their support for international students by signing their online petition and following their Facebook page.
In conclusion, the SNIS campaign aims to promote recognition of the contribution made by international students to the Australian economy and non-restriction of their work rights. The SCRAP the CAP! campaign hopes to put an end to the institutional issues faced by international students and create a fairer environment for them to study and work.
