New law protects holders of work visas for Australia
September 14 2009 by Matt Jones
Australia visa law protects workers
New laws came into effect today to project temporary overseas workers in Australia
The Australian tax office is now able to share information with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). This allows DIAC to seek out unscrupulous employers who have been paying their foreign employees a salary below the market rate.
The rouge employers will be dealt with appropriately and can face a fine of up to $33,000. Employers found to be paying salaries below the legal requirement have until January 1st 2010 to increase pay before facing a fine.
The underpaying of foreign workers is a problem in Australia. Earlier this year Australian immigration and the Fair Work Ombudsmen were able to successfully recover over $8000 in back-pay to two gold field workers in Western Australia who had been underpaid. They also recovered $15,000 for two Pilipino nurses from a healthcare recruiting agency. The agency was fined an additional $48,000.
The new law is good news for temporary 457 Australia work visa holders and now with the data-sharing in place more and more success stories will occur. The law also serves to strengthen the integrity of the 457 work visa.
Another aspect of the new law allows for specially trained officers to conduct inspections and monitor work places in a manner similar to that which the Fair Work inspectors were granted in the Fair Work Act of 2009.
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