A coalition of concerned community legal centres and civil society organisations have called on governments to make pre-election commitments to end the exploitation of migrant workers.
Employment Rights Legal Service
A free statewide employment law service providing advice and representation to migrants and vulnerable workers across New South Wales.
On this page
Employment Rights Legal Service (ERLS) is an innovative collaboration between Kingsford Legal Centre, Inner City Legal Centre and Redfern Legal Centre.
About this service
Have you been underpaid? Are you being unfairly treated by your boss? Do you want to know more about your rights at work?
ERLS provides free and confidential legal help to migrants and other vulnerable workers across NSW.
Our solicitors can help you with problems at work, including:
- Being paid incorrectly
- Losing your job unfairly
- Being bullied by your boss
- Being sexually harassed
- Being discriminated against
Who can access this service?
We provide employment law advice to employees experiencing vulnerability anywhere in NSW. An income threshold applies. Learn more about accessing our services.
Contact Us
To book advice with one of our solicitors:
LEGAL ENQUIRY form call 02 8004 3270
If you need to use an interpreter, call us using the free Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
If we are able to advise you, we will arrange for a solicitor to call you back. If we are not able to assist you we may refer you to other services and resources, including those listed below.
Since its inception in 2021, the Employment Rights Legal Service (ERLS) has supported thousands of workers who have been targeted for exploitation.
Inner City Legal Centre, Redfern Legal Centre, and Kingsford Legal Centre at UNSW have worked collaboratively and innovatively to deliver these vital services—supporting, empowering, and advocating for exploited workers across New South Wales.
This report outlines the achievements of the partnership between the three community legal centres and marks the release of an independent review of ERLS’s four-year impact.
ERLS plays a crucial role—not only by helping individual workers assert their rights, but also through its broader educational work with marginalised communities, and its efforts to hold employers accountable.
When marginalised workers, including migrant and First Nations workers, are empowered to stand up for their rights, our communities become stronger and conditions improve for all workers.
Download multi-language brochures
Self-help information
Wage theft: know your rights
We often hear from workers who are being exploited by employers who do not pay correctly or deny other workplace entitlements.
Are you:
- being paid less than $23.23/hour?
- not being paid at all?
- not being paid for working late at night or on weekends (penalty rates)?
- not being paid for entitlements such as annual leave, sick leave, long service leave or redundancy pay?
If so, you are most likely a victim of wage theft with a legal right to recover what you are owed.
We can help you.
Law reform
Employment Rights Legal Service is funded by the NSW Government, through the Community Legal Centres Program.