Visas & Advice Detail
New sponsorship obligations recommended
A draft outlining new regulations of obligations for employers looking to sponsor overseas workers on temporary 457 visas was released last week.
The new obligations, which were drafted following last year's 'Visa Subclass 457 Integrity Review', which was conducted by industrial relations expert Barbara Deegan, aim to reduce the number of employers taking advantage of overseas workers in Australia.
The proposed employer obligations include:
- An increase in the minimum salary paid to Subclass 457 visa holders;
- Payment of return travel costs for visa holders and their spouses; and
- Cooperating with inspectors exercising powers under the Worker Protection Act.
The government has said it will consider increasing the minimum wage for Subclass 457 visa holders to the market rate paid to Australian workers employed in similar positions.
"Paying market rates for Subclass 457 visa holders will effectively make them a more expensive option for employers," explained Australian immigration minister Christopher Evans. "This will ensure that temporary skilled overseas workers are not employed ahead of local workers or used to undermine Australian wages and conditions.
"The principle of the Subclass 457 visa scheme is to supplement – not replace – the local workforce when there are serious skills shortages."
However, the draft regulations also propose removing the requirement for employers to cover health care costs for temporary overseas workers. Instead, Subclass 457 visa holders will be required to take out private health insurance at their own expense and cover any school expenses for their children.
Before any final decision on whether to implement these changes is made, a panel of industry, union and state government representatives will assess the proposed new regulations and provide feedback to the government.