http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/02/2...ork-visas-for-foreign-workers/#comment-878553
The Australian government is tightening its “457″ visa program (equivalent to Singapore’s S-Pass or Employment Pass) for foreign workers, saying it has evidence the program is being used to discriminate against local Australians.
Australian immigration Minister Brendan O’Connor revealed, “It has become clear that the growth in the 457 program is out of step with genuine skills shortages and the Government has evidence that some employers are using 457 visas to employ foreign workers over locals.”
He added, “We do not want to punish those employers who have genuine skill shortages and who are using 457 visas in the way that the system is intended. But my message to those employers who are either flouting the rules or deliberately overlooking local employees is that the government will not accept these practices.”
“Rogue employers are deliberately employing people from overseas without giving a local a chance.”
The number of 457 visas has soared from 70,000 to 100,000 in the past two years.
The Australian Govt announced the following changes yesterday (23 Feb):
Extra investigation powers for inspectors to get information from bosses they suspect of being dodgy.
A new test to prove jobs were for “genuine” skills shortages because some employers were creating positions that were really “unskilled and possibly not even a real job”.
Closing loopholes that allow foreign workers to be paid less than an Australian citizen by increasing from $180,000 to $250,000 the threshold at which they must pay “market rates”.
Stopping employers creating their own market to manipulate pay rates.
Raising requirements for foreign workers to speak English.
Restricting foreign workers being on-hired to a different employer in regions where there are not skill shortages.
Checking that employers offer training for locals to fill skills shortages before they seek foreigners.
Mr O’Connor said, “The Government cares about Australians getting jobs first.”
It has found Australians earning A$220,000 were undercut by foreigners willing to accept A$180,000. Pay levels have also been especially manipulated in the IT industry in Melbourne.
The authorities even found a loss-making “start-up”, created just to secure cheap foreign workers.
Mr O’Connor told reporters, “We have seen too many examples of abuse across the nation. There are situations where Australian workers are being discriminated against because of the abuse of the program.”
“We have seen situations where people’s jobs have been `dressed up’ to be so-called skilled jobs but in fact when they come here they are working in unskilled or semi-skilled areas.”
Dave Oliver, secretary of Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), said, “It doesn’t make sense. Local jobs are disappearing and yet there is a significant increase nationwide of the amount of 457 visas that are being granted.”
“We’ve seen this for too long as a lazy option for employers. It’s just a matter of a tick-and-flick form where they can bring workers from overseas, as opposed to investing in their own workforce.”
The Australian government is tightening its “457″ visa program (equivalent to Singapore’s S-Pass or Employment Pass) for foreign workers, saying it has evidence the program is being used to discriminate against local Australians.
Australian immigration Minister Brendan O’Connor revealed, “It has become clear that the growth in the 457 program is out of step with genuine skills shortages and the Government has evidence that some employers are using 457 visas to employ foreign workers over locals.”
He added, “We do not want to punish those employers who have genuine skill shortages and who are using 457 visas in the way that the system is intended. But my message to those employers who are either flouting the rules or deliberately overlooking local employees is that the government will not accept these practices.”
“Rogue employers are deliberately employing people from overseas without giving a local a chance.”
The number of 457 visas has soared from 70,000 to 100,000 in the past two years.
The Australian Govt announced the following changes yesterday (23 Feb):
Extra investigation powers for inspectors to get information from bosses they suspect of being dodgy.
A new test to prove jobs were for “genuine” skills shortages because some employers were creating positions that were really “unskilled and possibly not even a real job”.
Closing loopholes that allow foreign workers to be paid less than an Australian citizen by increasing from $180,000 to $250,000 the threshold at which they must pay “market rates”.
Stopping employers creating their own market to manipulate pay rates.
Raising requirements for foreign workers to speak English.
Restricting foreign workers being on-hired to a different employer in regions where there are not skill shortages.
Checking that employers offer training for locals to fill skills shortages before they seek foreigners.
Mr O’Connor said, “The Government cares about Australians getting jobs first.”
It has found Australians earning A$220,000 were undercut by foreigners willing to accept A$180,000. Pay levels have also been especially manipulated in the IT industry in Melbourne.
The authorities even found a loss-making “start-up”, created just to secure cheap foreign workers.
Mr O’Connor told reporters, “We have seen too many examples of abuse across the nation. There are situations where Australian workers are being discriminated against because of the abuse of the program.”
“We have seen situations where people’s jobs have been `dressed up’ to be so-called skilled jobs but in fact when they come here they are working in unskilled or semi-skilled areas.”
Dave Oliver, secretary of Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), said, “It doesn’t make sense. Local jobs are disappearing and yet there is a significant increase nationwide of the amount of 457 visas that are being granted.”
“We’ve seen this for too long as a lazy option for employers. It’s just a matter of a tick-and-flick form where they can bring workers from overseas, as opposed to investing in their own workforce.”
