Immigration changes, 457 Visa Workers getting harder to employ and retain.
(c) 457 Visa Assistance Team – July 2009
EMPLOYERS are facing difficult changes to their recruitment and employment plans after changes to work visas, which came into effect on July 1.
The changes included tougher English language requirements and with more changes to come including strict testing of skills for some 457 Visa workers, from countries the Australian Government has deemed high risk.
The slow down reported by DIAC in new visas being issued or applied is looking increasingly like it is not due to a slowing in demand, as there are still a lot of companies and industries in Australia that would like to use the 457 Visa.
Instead it looks like the reduced numbers are actually from The Australian Government’s plans to make the 457 Visa scheme so difficult for employers to use, so difficult in fact for employers to comply with the new and ever changing 457 Visa requirements and so difficult for a worker applying on a 457 Visa to get approved, that the 457 Visa will simply end up becoming unworkable for people.
A statement from the office of the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Evans, said “Where necessary for safety or to prevent fraud, Australia will undertake more extensive skills assessments to confirm skills claimed by applicants. Australia is improving its skills assessment processes to provide for formal skills testing of some trade occupations.
“Changes have also come into effect that require certain 457 Visa Applicants from certain countries to undergo TRA.” Which is the same standard they would have to meet if they were applying to migrate permanently to Australia, so Australia is now forcing some temporary 457 Visa applicants to undergo this Very Stringent Testing for what is a actually a Short Term Work Visa, the 457 Visa.
Not all employers have welcomed the changes and those applicants / employees who have not completed their applications before July 1 and don't meet the new requirements face deportation.
A Queensland meatworks is facing closure in November 2009 if 89 of its staff on Visas are forced to leave, Western Exporters in Charleville was struggling to find local employees and now more than half of the 160 employees are 457 visa holders.
The Vietnamese staff members are awaiting approval for their residency applications and with only one granted the extension before July 1 things look very bad for 457 Visa Holders not just in Charliville but in fact in Australia.
Comment on this post
john a. lubiano
June 14, 2011 07:37:50
i just want to know how many days/months b4 i could appply 4 a new 547 visa before it get expire..i'm pretty sure my company will sponsor me again.any requirements needed.
Hein de Villiers
June 29, 2010 11:16:07
My family and I are living in Perth on a 3 year, sponsored 457 VISA.
We are in our 3rd year now, and my RSA based company would like to extend my contract to manage their Australian branch for a further 2 years.
How do I go about to extend my current VISA?
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