Nearly half of working migrant and refugee women say they have been sexually harassed by their bosses, customers or clients.
The most common types of harassment, according to a national report, included inappropriate phone calls and messages of a sexual nature, intrusive questions about their private lives, sexually suggestive jokes or comments and staring or leering that was intimidating.
It found 46 per cent of respondents experienced at least one form of sexual harassment in the workplace by men in the past five years.
The Migrant and Refugee Women's Attitudes, Experiences and Responses to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Study report released on Tuesday surveyed more than 700 migrant and refugee women across Australia.
The survey was conducted online in seven languages and found many respondents perceived their race or religion to be one of the motivations for the harassment.
The 76-page report was released by Australia's National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety in partnership with Monash University, Griffith University and Harmony Alliance.
Padma Raman, CEO of the research organisation, said it was time for a national conversation to stamp out workplace harassment.
"The reality is that for many migrant and refugee women who experience sexual harassment, it is not only sexist, but racist. These compounding forms of discrimination cannot be separated."
About half (48 per cent) of those surveyed worked in professional settings and 74 per cent had a bachelor's degree or higher.
But more than one third (37 per cent) stayed silent about their experiences of sexual harassment.
The main reasons for not reporting included feeling responsible for being in such an uncomfortable situation, uncertainty about what to do and concern over the impact on their employment.
In a third of the incidents, women had been threatened or warned not to say anything, including by family, friends and colleagues, because it would not help their situation.
Lead researcher Professor Marie Segrave from the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre said the research highlighted the importance of asking migrant and refugee women about their experiences in ways that are culturally appropriate.
"The findings reinforce the importance ... of recognising that across Australia, women are managing unsafe work conditions that will not be improved with a one-size-fits all response,” she said.
The research centre was set up by federal, state and territory governments to produce policy evidence to reduce violence against women and children.
