The exploitation of international students by Australian employers such as 7-Eleven is an embarrassment for a country trying to encourage more overseas enrolments, lawyers say.

Law firm, Maurice Blackburn, is offering free legal services to 7-Eleven workers, and says the federal government is not doing enough to crack down on the exploitation of international students.

It wants a visa amnesty for workers at the chain who fear deportation if they complain or admit to working more hours than allowed.

“The silence from the government has been deafening,” the firm’s employment law specialist, Josh Bornstein, told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.

“It’s one of the most disturbing employment scandals we’ve seen in a very long time and there has been absolutely no commitment, nothing, forthcoming from the outgoing minister, Tony Abbott, or anything else.”

The firm and consumer advocate, Michael Fraser, say they uncovered widespread rorting which suggests tens of thousands of 7-Eleven workers have been ripped off by franchise owners who doctored employment records.

“I cannot find, to this day, anybody that’s been paid the correct wages,” Fraser says.

Over a 10-year period that could mean workers are owed millions of unpaid wages and entitlements.

A joint Fairfax-Four Corners investigation in August found up to two-thirds of 7-Eleven stores could be underpaying workers.

The convenience chain has about 600 stores across Australia that employ some 4000 people.

“I’m calling the franchisee that pays the correct wages the ‘Loch Ness’ franchisee because I can’t find one,” Fraser said.

The exploitation of international students in Australia is a disgrace, Bornstein says.

“This is the latest embarrassment for Australia.”

The chain has established an independent panel to probe claims of underpayment headed by former competition watchdog boss, Allan Fels.

AAP