Changes to Australian Skilled Visas

August 03 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Chris Evans, Australian immigration minister

Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has announced changes to the requirements for Australia temporary skilled visas (subclass 457). These changes will protect Australian wages and conditions and prevent exploitation of foreign workers, according to Senator Evans.

The changes – which were introduced in consultation with industry and unions – are designed to ensure skilled overseas workers on temporary skilled Australia visas are not employed ahead of local workers. Nevertheless, Senator Evans emphasized the importance of recruiting temporary skilled migrants for Australia’s mining and healthcare industries, in particular.

The measures to be introduced include the implementation of formal skills assessments and an increase in the English language requirement for trade occupations from 1 July 2009; a requirement that all employers of overseas workers on 457 visas have a strong record of, or demonstrated commitment to, employing local labour; and the introduction of a market-based minimum salary for temporary overseas workers from mid September 2009.

Senator Evans said the number of overseas workers moving to Australia on temporary visas has fallen significantly this year because of the global recession: “While the number of workers coming to Australia under the scheme has slowed, there will still be demand for skilled overseas workers in some sectors, such as mining and healthcare,” he said.

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