Unions and major industry managers in Australia are at loggerheads over proposed changes to short term working visas.
The Department of Immigration has released a proposal paper as part of a major review of skilled migration and temporary activity visa programs.
The Department's proposal would allow companies to bring in foreign workers for up to a year, without having to apply for a 457 skilled worker visa. The new temporary visa holder would not be subject to language or skills requirements, and employers would not have to prove that local workers were unavailable to fill the position.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union National Secretary Michael O'Connor said he can't understand why the department has made the proposal.
"We have a worsening unemployment problem, exploitation of overseas workers; and everything the government does in this area is to make the situation worse."
However the Australian Mines and Metals Association's Scott Barklamb supports the proposal.
He says there's too much involved in applying for a 457 visa when a worker is only required for a matter of months.
"There's a need for much shorter engagements, people coming to install a machine, people coming to test Australian practices, Australian workers to share overseas knowledge overseas experience, or simply to supervise or oversee overseas investments in this country and that's where shorter visa options come in," he said.
Currently workers can apply for 457 working visas or the 400 short-term working visas. But industry groups have said these visas don't allow enough flexibility.
Mr Barklamb said the new proposal would allow for multiple entries to the country for visa holders, and for global partners to provide short term workers for special projects or consultation.
"For example you may have three or four shifts of an operator of a piece of equipment and if you need to review and certify three or four shifts in four or five locations around the country, what is genuinely temporary work that shouldn't require a 457 visa may last more than three months,” he said.
CFMEU National Secretary Michael O'Connor has rejected the suggestions of skills shortages in these areas.
"If there is a genuine skills shortage and an employer requires someone locally, in the state or someone in the country to do the job then we have no issue in making sure the enterprise goes ahead with having an appropriately skilled person brought in from overseas. We don't have a problem with that. But what we are seeing over the last decade is when there are people available to do the work employers are not using local people," he said.
A statement from the Department of Immigration said that: "contrary to union claims, an effectively managed temporary labour migration program will not threaten Australian jobs - rather, it will secure the future of businesses and grow employment opportunities."
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