The Australian government says the Temporary Skilled Shortage visa (TSS) will replace the 457 visa and will be introduced in early March 2018.
Migration agent Eva Abdelmasih told SBS Arabic24 that the new visa program will provide businesses with some flexibility as they can sponsor skilled workers for “short and medium-term” streams.
“The job list covered by this new visa program is a long one and includes up to 150 occupations,” Ms. Abdelmasih elaborates.
Migrant Worker Source: AAP
In a statement, the Australian government describes the introduction of the TSS visa as falling within its reform agenda to “strengthen the integrity and quality of Australia's temporary and permanent employer-sponsored skilled migration programs.”
“What is important about this new visa,” migration agent Eva Abdelmasih claims that it is “to help streamline the processing of temporary skilled work visas and contribute to reduced processing times, particularly for lower risk applications.”
The immigration department also clarifies that “employers who are already approved standard business sponsors for subclass 457 will be able to sponsor skilled overseas workers under the TSS visa program.”
As regards the options available under the TSS visa program, Ms Abdelmasih states that there will be three options available as follows:
· Short-term stream – this is for employers to source genuine temporary overseas skilled workers in occupations included on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) for a maximum of two years (or up to four years if an international trade obligation applies)
· Medium-term stream – this is for employers to source highly skilled overseas workers to fill medium-term critical skills in occupations included on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) for up to four years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after three years
· Labour Agreement stream – this is for employers to source overseas skilled workers in accordance with a labour agreement with the Commonwealth, on the basis of a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and standard visa programs are not available, with the capacity to negotiate a permanent residence option.
Furthermore, the Labour Market Testing (LMT) is still applicable to the new visa program (TSS). The Australian government maintains that more robust LMT arrangements will be in place for TSS – with occupation exemptions to LMT no longer available.
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“This is to ensure that employers try to find a suitably qualified Australians before they can seek to employ an overseas skilled worker on a TSS visa,” the government statement justifies.
In order to protect the skilled workers, the government puts forward some conditions for employers seeking to employ a worker from overseas at a salary of under AUD 250,000.
Employers need to provide detailed information “to demonstrate that they are going to pay the market salary rate to ensure that overseas workers are protected and the local labour market is not undercut,” according to the government statement.
Small Business Source: AAP
Though more details on the new TSS visa program will be available next month, migration agent Eva Abdelmasih told SBS Arabic24 that applications to the new visa program will be acceptable in early March 2018 with the possibility of turning this temporary visa into permanent residency if the visa holder “meets further visa requirements.”
