Foreign workers paid '$3 per hour'

The investigation comprises what has been described as a "systemic" exploitation of vulnerable employees - being deprived of wages and work-place entitlements.

Up until three weeks ago, Fillipino born beauty student Vicki Dang was working eleven hour shifts at a Melbourne bakery.

Meal breaks were frowned upon, and her wage was below the hourly award.

"I was supposed to get ten but I get nine instead", Vicki told SBS

Like so many vulnerable international workers in the cleaning, hospitatlity, horticulture and retail industries, she didn't complain.

"But I'm still happy to get that amount...because at that time I needed a job because my Mum is having an operation - she's not working so I need to pay the house rent."

Systemic exploitation

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, which publishes regular warnings to international workers and students, it's part of a systemic exploitation.

Since 2006 millions of dollars in unpaid wages have been recovered for international workers and employers are being placed on notice.

The Ombudsman is now investigating claims overseas contractors were being paid as little as three dollars an hour on a multi-billion dollar oil rig off the West Australian coast.

"There's no issue with a capacity to pay here", the AWU's Paul Howes says.

"What there is an issue with is a company that has not employed correct governence procedures and is exploiting foreign workers simply because they come from another country."

Refugee advocate Ramesh Fernandez says it's common for basic conditions such as meal breaks and penalties to be denied to workers who are often unaware of their entitlements.

"Definately the last three days I have come across some of the people been not paid penalty rates during Easter time", he says.

"These people are human beings - they should be not exploited, they should be rewarded in the parameters of the employment."

The federal government is considering strengthening penalties for employers caught exploiting foreign workers.