'Left with nothing': Australia's migrant workforce face destitution without coronavirus safety net

The 1.1 million people on temporary work visas have been conspicuously absent from the government's assistance packages

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In a week, Popi's household of full employment went to a bare six hours a week. Four foreign nationals on temporary work visas, they watched in disbelief as, in turn, they endured layoff after layoff after layoff.

As the Australian government has swung into action to counter the economic chaos of the coronavirus pandemic, outlaying public money to support businesses and a new jobkeeper wage subsidy to keep money in the pockets of employees laid off, Australia's million-strong migrant workforce has been conspicuously absent.