Jerwin Royupa was full of dreams and eager to learn new skills when he arrived in Australia to work at a remote winery in rural NSW.
Five weeks later, the 21-year-old Filipino died from injuries sustained when he got out of a moving vehicle driven by his training visa sponsor.
His death has led to calls to improve reporting of modern slavery crimes and set up a national anti-slavery hotline.
An investigation into his death found that the recent university graduate was exploited by his employer, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Coroner Rebecca Hosking found he had been forced to do 60 hours a week of manual labor without receiving the promised training, and was not paid as agreed.
The 21-year-old was also unable to access his passport during his time at the vineyard, raising concerns about his safety.
An increasingly anxious Royupa fled his employer’s moving vehicle in March 2019 after the man threatened to take him to the police station or airport, the coroner found.
As the migrant lay unconscious and bleeding on the road, his sponsor belittled him and delayed calling an ambulance before ignoring a request to leave the scene.
“His behavior was deplorable,” Hosking said.
She referred the circumstances surrounding Royupa’s death to the Australian Federal Police for further investigation, raising the specter of possible criminal charges.
“He was a very special young man who was lost prematurely, not only to his family and friends, but to the wider community,” the coroner said.
She recommended that the federal and NSW anti-slavery commissioners work with the Commonwealth, the Attorney General and the Fair Work Commission to consider how to strengthen reporting of modern slavery crimes.
This should include the establishment of a national anti-slavery hotline and mandatory training for police officers working in conditions where modern slavery could emerge, such as isolated areas.
The investigation into Royupa’s death is the first in the country to examine concerns about forced labor since modern slavery offenses were recorded in 2013.
Royupa’s family said his death raised concerns about the welfare of migrant workers in Australia and the adequacy of support.
“We know Jerwin was deceived by a sham training program,” said his sister Jessa Joy Royupa.
“We know he was afraid of his employer. We know he had multiple risk factors for forced labor.”
She welcomed the referral of the case to the AFP, but called on the federal government to do better for migrant workers.
“You have to do a lot more to keep the people who come to work here safe,” Ms. Royupa said.
“No family should have to experience the kind of heartbreak we experienced.”
The 21-year-old’s attempts to seek help from the government and other agencies in the days before his death were tragically unsuccessful.
“Jerwin deserved protection and support. Our systems failed to provide that,” said Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans.
Modern slavery remediation service Domus 8.7 said the investigation was an important milestone on migrant safety issues.
“This inquest has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers who are tied to one employer and isolated from support,” said service attorney Moe Turaga, who survived slave labor on an Australian farm after arriving from Fiji as a teenager.
“The Royupa family has waited many years for this moment and we recognize the courage and perseverance they have shown in seeking answers about Jerwin’s death.”
Although she expressed relief at finally having answers after almost seven years, Ms Royupa said they provided no comfort.
“Today is still a sad and painful day,” she said.
‘Jerwin was a young man with everything to live for. We all loved him.’
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