Legal Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers under Sustainable Development Goal 8: The Applus+ Karratha Case in Western Australia

Abstract

This study examined the legal protection of Indonesian migrant workers employed at Applus+ Karratha, Western Australia, in relation to Sustainable Development Goal 8 on decent work. It applied a normative juridical approach, drawing on Indonesian and Australian legislation, international labour standards, and a limited semi structured interview with the company’s human resources/legal representative. The analysis found that the employer reported direct recruitment and visa sponsorship, working conditions governed by an enterprise agreement, equal employment entitlements, uniform safety requirements, internal complaint channels, and access to trade union or legal assistance. These reported arrangements broadly corresponded with the rights based dimensions of Targets 8.5 and 8.8. However, mechanisms relevant to Target 8.7 could not by themselves establish the absence of exploitation. Since the empirical material was limited to an employer representative and no payroll, agreement or worker level records were independently reviewed, the findings established reported policy alignment rather than verified implementation. The study concluded that workplace level legal protection should be assessed through both formal legal compliance and accessible, independently verifiable remedies.