Visas for foreign workers tightened

23 Feb 2013, 4:31 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor says the 457 visas will be tightened. (AAP)

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor says the 457 visas will be tightened. (AAP)

The 457 visa scheme for overseas workers is being tightened because it is being rorted by some employers, the federal government says.

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The federal government is cracking down on the 457 visa scheme for temporary overseas workers, saying it has evidence the program is being used to discriminate against Australians.

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor says the 457 visas will be tightened to ensure they are only used to address genuine skills shortages, and that local workers are getting a "fair go".

Under the changes, employers will be required to demonstrate they are nominating a position where there is a genuine shortage of workers, while English language requirements for some jobs will also be raised.

Mr O'Connor said compliance and enforcement powers would also be boosted to stop employers who are rorting the system.

"It has become clear ... that the growth in the 457 program is out of step with those skills shortages, and the government has evidence that some employers - and I emphasise that word, some - are using 457 visas to discriminate against locals," Mr O'Connor said in a statement.

"We do not want to punish those employers who have genuine skill shortages and who are using 457 visas in the way that the system is intended.

"But my message to those employers who are either flouting the rules or deliberately overlooking local employees is that the government will not accept these practices."

The federal government has dismissed claims that the announced changes are giving way to union demands.

"The good employees get what they need, but the rogue employers do not get to exploit overseas workers, domestic workers," Mr O'Connor said.

But the announcement has been criticised by National Party Senate Leader Barnaby Joyce, who says the tightening of the 457 visa scheme would cause great damage to regional economies.

''If there are companies rorting the system, then the government already has the power to exclude them from the scheme. It doesn't need to tighten the scheme as a whole,'' Senator Joyce told the SMH.

Senator Joyce said industries like abattoirs could be forced to close factories if they can't fill jobs unwanted by Australian workers with overseas workers.

457 Visa

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457

Anon - from Australia, 4 months ago

American and English companies for years have been bringing in their own staff from Dubai, India, USA , England and the Philippines in both the construction and oil and gas industry. They don't like to employ Australians because they know their rights and will not work the long hours expected by these companies and will not work on Australia Day. Go into any foreign owned company and see how many Australians are there. Probably only the admin and HR staff

What positions ?

Brian - from Wollongong, 4 months ago

457 Visas are for highly skilled workers in most cases people who are on the dole would not have the skills to apply for these positions I assume. Though a investigation into 457 visas is needed due to rorts. Would be interesting to know what specific job positions are being offered for foreign workers ? Its also disgusting that companies employ overseas workers but are unwilling to employ newer migrants to this country ?

Aussie Jobs for Aussies ONLY

Anonymous - from Anonymous, 4 months ago

'Low-skilled jobs have been dressed up as high-skilled ones with one company winning permission to bring in administrators who were really unskilled security guards.' DIAC's own immigration detention security provider fits this description, bringing all the UK prison staff to take the management jobs saying no qualified or experienced staff here, which is a total BS. They not only treat Aussies who knows work rights with total disrespect but love employing 457s to creating their kingdom.

Dole!!

Dave - from Wollongong, 4 months ago

Its the same the world over, people are always going to choose the easy option dole over work? Hence the need for the 457 visa in some cases. Although Aussies should be given the option to apply for jobs first and if they are qualified should be given the option of work. However, do not start whinging if you don't take the job as your too lazy to do it and its offered to a foreign worker.

Open your eyes

James - from Avondale Heights, 4 months ago

This is not just about mining and abottoirs. There has been a massive shift by large companies to use third party (aslso overseas) owned companies to throw out their local workers and replace with 457 workers. The IT industry has been impacted by this over the years and the impact at first was zero wage growth for 5 years. Now we have most large IT firms laying off local workers and employing 457 workers at a rate 7 times cheaper than local. This is a big problem. Will be obvious in 12 months

Total Ban!

True Blue Ozzie - from Gladstone Q, 4 months ago

Hello these visas have been exploited for some years now, it's nothing new! I lived in a town where we had an Abbattoir, many locals could not get a position, but hey they the company could bring in all these over sea's worker to fill the positions. Blatant discriminate against Australians in it's highist form. It's a blatant rort, used by companies to pay low wages! Australias unemployed and on welfare should get all these jobs period. COMPLETELY BAN 457 VISAS!

two sided sword

phw - from canberra, 4 months ago

Of course, locals should be given preferential employment opportunities provided their skills are of a competitive quality to overseas competitors. With the "education revolution", as opposed to Gillard's subsidy of the building industry, still outstanding Labor's arbitrary interference in judging where skill shortages exist, and where not, will discourage many cutting edge businesses to set up shop in Australia.

457 is maximum exploited in IT jobs

mathew - from laverton, 4 months ago

I believe the 457 is maximum exploited in the IT Jobs. Out sourcing has become the thing of past with most of the companies trying to make Offshoring with help of 457 replacing IT staff with underpaid overseas workers. Most 457 visas are issue in IT sector. I believe the biggest games are done in IT Jobs where the money is good. We try to follow US in our IT sector. I think the shine is short lived.

unfair

bob - from bondi, 4 months ago

the real exploit is by big companies and hospitality industry. mines throw money around and small business is left with no support from the government.

imported labour

Paul - from Perth wa , 4 months ago

the cleaning company's are the worst they love people that can't read or speak English so they can rip them off

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