Bill Shorten is promising to rewrite the rules around foreign workers, including boosting the minimum wage of temporary skilled visa holders to prevent them being used as cheap imported labour.
As he campaigns in north Queensland, Mr Shorten has turned his attention to industrial relations.
Mr Shorten is proposing to boost the threshold that skilled overseas workers can be hired by more than $10,000, hoping that by lifting the base rate to $65,000 they are no longer used as cheap replacements.
Labor would also clamp down on employers providing shoddy accommodation or excessive overtime to fudge people's salaries.
Workers would be required to provide overseas staff with employment agreements, as well as contact details for support services.
The Fair Work Ombudsman's powers would be expanded, allowing its officers to inspect businesses and investigate employers suspected of breaches to the migration act.
Mr Shorten is hoping his pledge to "restore fairness" in the skilled visa system will win over regions struggling with high unemployment.
Australians looking for work missing out
The opposition leader bemoaned the fact there were more than one million Australians wanting more work, with the 11.7 per cent youth unemployment rate more than double the national average.
Meanwhile, there are almost 1.6 million temporary visa holders with work rights in Australia.
"Too many local workers are being left at the back of the queue," Mr Shorten said.
He accused those at the top end of town of turning to temporary overseas workers to undercut local jobs, wages and conditions.
Mr Shorten said four in every five temporary skilled visas were granted for occupations with no shortage of Australian workers.
Labor is proposing to enshrine in legislation a new authority restricting the visas to areas of genuine need.
A public register would also be created to record the number of visa holders per workplace.
Labor would also tighten the screws on unqualified temporary workers slinking into the country.
"Only Labor has a plan to crack down on 457-style visa rorts, ensure local workers are given the first shot at local jobs and invest in skills and training," Mr Shorten said.
