PhD graduate advocates for international students
Workplace justice for international students is at the heart of new research by Dr Domenico Lococo, who has recently completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at CQUniversity.
Dr Lococo’s research explored wage underpayment experienced by international students working in Australia.
He focused particularly on the experiences of Indian students and examined how to better support them in reporting and lodging complaints about inappropriate wage practices.
“My research utilised a mixed-methods approach to understanding the views and potential behaviour of a vulnerable and precarious group: international students from India,” Dr Lococo said.
“These students were asked about current and proposed strategies in dealing with wage underpayments, with a focus on criminalisation and co-regulation.”
Dr Lococo said the work was necessary because underpayment of international students remains a widespread and systemic issue in Australia.
“The literature suggests that wage underpayment of international students is pervasive across the country. Many students were under-reporting, and only a small minority were making complaints about unfair workplace practices,” he said.
“I hope that my research will eventually result in new public policies, laws, and regulatory strategies that would increase the reporting and complaint-making of vulnerable and precarious workers affected by wage underpayments in Australia.”
The thesis identified a range of reforms that could help create fairer working environments, including co-regulation, a new dispute resolution mechanism, changes to court processes, and new approaches to engaging with stakeholders.
His doctorate has already opened new doors with Dr Lococo recently appointed as a CQU law academic at the Melbourne campus.
“My teaching at CQUniversity provides me with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the educational needs of students, staff, and the University, so I can potentially improve the learning environment for students, provide a better teaching experience for staff, and create a more progressive University in the future,” he said.
“Undertaking a doctorate at CQUniversity was one of the best experiences of my life because I see education as a life-enriching activity and beneficial to society.”
