Crise de grossesse pour les travailleuses migrantes en Australie

SYDNEY – 10 Mai 2024 –

Ce nouveau rapport met en lumière une crise de grossesse chez les travailleuses migrantes en Australie, exposant les difficiles choix que ce groupe de personnes est forcé de faire. Qui ? Des femmes venant des îles du Pacifique et du Timor Leste. Quoi ? des grossesses non désirées, conduisant à des avortements clandestins et de graves conséquences pour leur santé. Où ? En Australie, principalement dans le cadre du programme PALM. Quand ? Les faits relatés se déroulent actuellement. Pourquoi ? En raison de la pression économique et de l’absence de soutien. Cette situation souligne les défis auxquels ces travailleuses sont confrontées, et révèle des failles dans le système de protection de ces femmes vulnérables, et invite à prendre des mesures d’urgence.

Here’s a rewritten version of the article, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and impact:

vulnerable Migrant Workers in Australia Face Pregnancy Crisis: Report Reveals Shocking Choices

A new report has uncovered disturbing accounts of female workers from Pacific Island countries and Timor Leste employed in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labor Mobility (PALM) scheme facing immense pressure and making desperate choices regarding pregnancy.Australian National University researcher Lindy kanan’s investigation into the experiences of PALM workers revealed that some women are hiding pregnancies, attempting unsafe home abortions, or spending significant sums to access termination services.

Kanan’s report, “It’s not illegal to be pregnant,” highlights systemic issues within the PALM scheme, including discrimination, coercion, harassment, assault, and difficulty accessing affordable healthcare. Interviews with workers, employers, and service providers revealed a pattern of vulnerable women facing impossible choices.

The report detailed instances of women resorting to dangerous methods to terminate pregnancies. “People were drinking certain substances to try to terminate the pregnancy, or using physical means to try to abort it,” Kanan told the ABC. While the report doesn’t quantify the prevalence, kanan heard multiple accounts from service providers.

Limited access to legal abortion in many Pacific Island nations, coupled with cultural stigma and a lack of facts about Australian services, are believed to be contributing factors. The report suggests fear of costs, shame, and a lack of awareness are pushing women to extreme measures.

The PALM scheme, designed to address labour shortages in rural Australia while providing income for Pacific workers, has expanded to various sectors. However, it has faced criticism for exposing vulnerable workers to exploitation.

Dr. Trudi Beck,who runs a women’s health clinic in Wagga Wagga,estimates that a quarter of her abortion patients are migrant workers in vulnerable situations,often driven by the need to maintain their employment or conceal extra-marital pregnancies.She notes that their health insurance frequently enough doesn’t cover pregnancy and birth. “I have a moral issue with visa structures that mean a woman has to choose between a pregnancy and supporting her family at home,” Dr.Beck stated.Dr. Beck further emphasized the convergence of difficult issues: “It’s a combination of all the things australians don’t want to talk about – abortion, racism and exploitation of our Pacific neighbours.”

The report also revealed that some PALM workers conceal pregnancies due to fear of job loss or shame, leading to low engagement with antenatal care. Employers have reported being unaware of pregnancies until women went into labor at work.

Tukini Tavui, president of the Pacific islands Council of South Australia, highlighted the cultural taboos surrounding sex and pregnancy outside of marriage, which further complicate the situation for women seeking help. He confirmed instances of women attempting unsafe abortions, even in the fields.

The report also documented instances of sexual harassment and assault, particularly in shared accommodation. One service provider in Queensland stated that many pregnancies among PALM workers appear to be the result of sexual abuse, questioning the scheme’s design and lack of protection for women.

The Australian Women’s Health Alliance has called for urgent action to protect PALM workers, stating that the harms they face are “symptoms of systemic inequity” requiring policy reform across health, labor, and migration. They emphasize that PALM workers are routinely denied access to Medicare, reproductive healthcare, and essential legal protections.