Visas & Advice Detail
Temporary visa amendments
At the beginning of April, a number of changes were announced regarding Australia's temporary 457 visa system.
The measures, which will be phased in over the coming months, are part of the Australian government's ongoing pledge to eradicate the exploitation of temporary workers in the country, whilst still ensuring it can bring in any workers needed from overseas.
One of the main changes focuses on the wages that will be paid to overseas workers. The Minimum Salary Level (MSL) for 457 visa workers will be increased be increased by 4.1 per cent from 1st July, in a bid to make sure that the wages of overseas workers keeps pace with local workers - therefore cutting down on foreign workers being viewed as cheap labour. This will mean the MSL paid to 457 visa holders in metropolitan areas will be AUS$45,221 (AUS$61,919 if they work in the IT sector).
What's more, from mid-September a market-based minimum salary assessment mechanism for all new and existing 457 visa holders will also be introduced.
Other amendments announced will affect British temporary worker applicants less than those from other countries. These include increasing the minimum English language requirements for all would-be chef and trade-based temporary overseas workers, while a formal skills assessment requirement will be introduced in stages for 457 visa applicants from 'high risk immigration countries' seeking to work in chef and other trade occupations. Both of these measures have induced criticism from a number of unions in Oz - including those for the meat industry and chefs - who believe they will lose much of their workforce due to the increased language requirements, even though the ability to speak English is not necessarily crucial to their job.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship will also introduce a number of measures between now and the end of the year which will aim to ensure any employers planning to take on overseas workers are not discriminating against local Aussie workers, and have a good record of non-discriminatory employment practices.
As a result of the current economic climate Down Under, the number of 457 visa applications made dropped during the first quarter of this year. The first three months of 2009 has seen an average of 430 primary visa applications a week lodged by people offshore seeking to come to Australia on a 457 visa, compared to just over 700 a week in the six months to December 2008.