Backpackers working on Australian farms are being duped by their employers into paying over the odds for "substandard" accommodation, some workers claim.

Key points: Some employers make work availability reliant on staying in run-down accommodation

Some employers make work availability reliant on staying in run-down accommodation Employers threaten to not sign off on visa documentation if workers leave accommodation

Employers threaten to not sign off on visa documentation if workers leave accommodation Fair Work Ombudsman says it has heard of "instances of expensive and substandard accommodation"

A year on from an investigation by the ABC's Four Corners program that revealed slavery-like working conditions for subclass 417 working holiday visa holders, backpackers say rorting is still rife.

Those wishing to stay a second year in Australia have to complete 88 days of regional work in a form of plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining or construction, and have their days signed off by an employer.

As of August last year, the Federal Government has required backpackers to provide payslips when lodging their visa application to ensure their wages meet the minimum $17.70 per hour.

However, there are claims some employers are reducing the amount they pay out by requiring workers to pay hundreds of dollars a week in cash to stay in run-down housing while offering few hours of work in return.

The ABC has seen contracts where farm jobs are linked to weekly rental accommodation costing up to $240 per week.

"Once you moved out of the accommodation that we put you in, the employment contract is invalid," a contract from an employer in Queensland's Bundaberg area stated.

Another contract from an employer on Queensland's Sunshine Coast stated:

"You are signing for how long you wish to work and stay on the farm. Once you break this contract all bond and working visa forms will be nil and void. Meaning you will not get any days that you have worked towards you (sic) 2nd visa and you will lose your bond."

To take on contract labour suppliers, Anthony Staatz, the president of the Lockyer Valley Growers in south-east Queensland, has called for the Government to set up a certification process.

"The labour hire industry, whether it be in agriculture or any other industry, has been littered with the mistreatment of workers. It is about time the Government accepted responsibility in the area of compliance and implemented effective legislation," he said.

People would come and realise there's no work: Sophie

In a bid to receive her second-year visa, British backpacker Sophie Ferrier accepted a fruit picking job that paid $21 an hour.

Sophie Ferrier says she only managed to get 28 days of farm work done in three months. ( Supplied )

A condition in the contract required her to stay in farm accommodation costing $120 per week.

She said she was given only a handful of hours' work each week, meaning that by the end of her three-month stint she was left with "just under $2,000" and had less than half of the regional work days signed off.

"When I first started I was doing between two and four hours, only about three days a week. I was there three months and I only managed to get 28 days done," she said.

"The reason they were getting so many people in when there wasn't that much work was because people were going to be paying $120 a week.

"Before we got there we had to pay a $250 deposit and we wouldn't get it back if we left before our contract ends. If you go against the contract times they won't sign you off.

"I think they [the employers] knew that people would come, realise there's no work and on top of the $120 rent they received they also got to keep $250."

It was alright — except for bed bugs and price: Johanna

German backpacker Johanna Kiessling, in an effort to secure her second working holiday visa, was tied to an employment and accommodation contract in Queensland's Lockyer Valley, which saw her pay $200 rent each week in return for a tomato picking job that paid up to $7 per hour.

Backpackers in the Lockyer Valley area complain of "substandard" accommodation. ( Supplied )

The contract was arranged by a broker who found Johanna various jobs if she rented through her.

Johanna conceded the rental was "alright" because unlike other accommodation she had heard of, hers had electricity.

"The house where I lived was completely alright, except the price and except the bed bugs," she said.

"But I know a lot of other houses that even don't [have] electricity. They still have to pay $200 weekly, which is ridiculous.

"Accommodation is much too small and you pay too much. The work is just ridiculous. If you don't help [the broker], you won't get better jobs."

Legislation gaps 'leave backpackers open to manipulation'

Former local council staffer Emily (not her real name), who advises backpackers in south-east Queensland, said "the situation out there is so bad and I don't like to see young people being exploited".

Working holiday visa statistics: 86,847 first working holiday visas were granted in the six months to December 31, 2015

86,847 first working holiday visas were granted in the six months to December 31, 2015 19,320 second working holiday visas were granted in the same period

19,320 second working holiday visas were granted in the same period Casual workers should be paid at least $22.13 an hour for fruit, vegetable picking, Harvest Trail campaign states

Casual workers should be paid at least $22.13 an hour for fruit, vegetable picking, Harvest Trail campaign states Working at average pace, piece workers should be picking enough to make $25.12 per hour, campaign states

"What I'm seeing [the] most of at the moment is overcrowded accommodation linked to poor wages where accommodation is actually quite expensive; and they [backpackers] have to stay in that accommodation to get work with that operator," she said.

"Apart from that, I've had people stay with me that have been kicked out of their accommodation at 10:00 at night — there's nowhere to go."

She said backpackers were staying in houses with as many as 15 people in them, leaving them open to "manipulation".

"The accommodation situation is really difficult because there are gaps in the legislation — backpackers aren't covered [under the Residential Tenancies Act]," she said.

"There's no paper trail when things are in cash and there's no receipts given for accommodation."

Major profit comes from accommodation: QFES

The Fair Work Ombudsman's (FWO) Harvest Trail Inquiry has been looking into "persistent underpayments and confusion among growers and labour-hire contractors about their workplace obligations".

"The inquiry has heard [of] instances of substandard and expensive accommodation and deductions from workers' wages for accommodation and associated costs," a FWO spokesperson said.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services' (QFES) head of investigation and compliance section David Tucker said he was "aware of contractors whose business is providing farm work but their major profit comes from providing accommodation".

"That's pretty much been my experience where the backpacker or the transient worker is charged somewhere $150 per week, plus another $50 for transport," he said.

"Essentially, they're [the employers] getting that $200 straight back out of the worker."

A spokesperson for the National Farmers' Federation said: "We can't comment on individual cases as we don't have all the facts. We encourage those who are concerned about their wages or conditions to contact the Fair Work Ombudsman."