Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans Denys 457 Visa Holders additional time to find new sponsors
(c) 457 Visa Assistance Team
Under the current rules of the 457 Visa program, if temporary workers on a 457 Visa lose their jobs, they have 28 days to find a new one or risk being deported.
The Australian Government’s review of the program, headed by Barbara Deegan, recommended this be increased to 90 days to give workers more chance to find alternative employment.
But immigration Minister Chris Evans last week ruled out any extension of time for such workers.
He said it was not prudent to extend the time to three months, “I don’t think that moving to 90 days, was a sensible move,” he told the ABC. - The Australian Financial Review, July 07, 2009.
In April the monthly visa decline was just over 1600 workers and in March there was a decrease of almost 1500 Visas.
Bob Kinnaird, a retired public servant and authority on the skilled migrant program, said the acceleration in the decline of the stock of 457 workers was “consistent with employers getting rid of 457 workers”.
A Victorian engineer, David Richards, wrote in The Age last month that he was involved with a number of cancelled mining and petrochemical projects in which "people are being laid off due to lack of work.
David Richards said “My feeling is the 457 people should be the first to go, to protect local jobs."
Comment on this post
Paul Nolan
January 31, 2010 12:07:57
I am currently on a 457 visa and feel people on this visa are exploited. I have worked more hours than i,m supposed to and never get paid overtime its expected.I have moved employers and it is worse still. I am skilled and applied for my skilled independent which has all changed the stress this is causing on me and my family is enormous.I am not racist but feel i am not being treated equally i,m white English and i,m working my wife is working and my eighteen year old son is working but obviously we are not what Australia is looking for.I have spoke to people in the same circumstances and the stress is terrible.I would have thought skilled would be the priority but no 457 and students are where one lot of workers are open to exploitation and the other is a money making scheme. I love this country i would love to settle and open my own business but may never be given the chance i thought Australia was a fare society but i am now undecided.
Paul Nolan
January 31, 2010 12:02:57
I am currently on a 457 visa and feel people on this visa are exploited. I have worked more hours than i,m supposed to and never get paid overtime its expected.I have moved employers and it is worse still. I am skilled and applied for my skilled independent which has all changed the stress this is causing on me and my family is enormous.I am not racist but feel i am not being treated equally i,m white English and i,m working my wife is working and my eighteen year old son is working but obviously we are not what Australia is looking for.I have spoke to people in the same circumstances and the stress is terrible.I would have thought skilled would be the priority but no 457 and students are where one lot of workers are open to exploitation and the other is a money making scheme. I love this country i would love to settle and open my own business but may never be given the chance i thought Australia was a fare society but i am now undecided.
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