Australian Migration News

Australian govt passes new law to protect temporary overseas workers

The Australian Parliament passed new laws yesterday, 4 December, to increase protection of the rights of temporary overseas workers.

The Migration Legislation Amendment (Worker Protection) Bill 2008 is intended to protect the rights of workers on the subclass 457 visa program, and is the result of collaboration between the government, unions and industry leaders.

The subclass 457 visa scheme allows employers to sponsor overseas workers to work temporarily in Australia if the Australian labour market is not meeting the needs of that industry.

During 2007-08, around 60,000 Australian visas were granted to overseas workers. Although the government believes the majority of employers in Australia comply with the conditions of their sponsorship obligations, it is also aware that some employers are breaking the law to advantage their business.

During the same year, the government issued an increased number of warnings and formal sanctions to employers than the year before. In 2007-08, 192 sponsors were formally sanctioned and a further 1353 employers were formally warned, while the year prior only 95 sanctions and 313 formal warnings were issued.

Now that Parliament has officially passed the bill, officers have the right to investigate and monitor workplaces to ensure employers are complying with their sponsorship obligations. Fines for non-compliance could reach up to $33,000 and could prevent them from further opportunities of hiring foreign workers.
The bill also ensures employers pay the 457 visa holders the correct wages or salaries.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Evans has put fears at rest that the global financial crisis would cause a drastic reduction in Australia's skilled migration quota, reports The Australian.

According to business groups, a reduction in the Australian immigration quota would tarnish the country's global image as a top choice destination for migrants.

Senator Evans has reassured the lobbying business groups that his government would not overreact to the global recession.

"[Immigration] is a global market, so your reputation and your brand is quite important," Senator Evans told reporters.

"So certainly a lot of the advice is: don't ruin the brand by knee-jerk reactions, because we're going to be wanting to recruit in these areas, if not this year, then the year after."

This financial year, Australian immigration levels reached record levels, with 31,000 extra visaa taking the quota to 190,300 visas for Australia, which comprised 133,500 skilled visa migrants.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Peter Anderson said the government needs to be careful of reducing migration programmes in response to the financial slowdown, particularly the 457 temporary workers programme.

"A downturn of 1-2 per cent is not a proper basis for recalibrating a skilled migration program," Mr Anderson told The Australian.

He said in times of financial distress the government needs to maintain a level of productivity, and skilled migration and temporary migration would maintain economic capacity and Australia's brand and reputation as a favourite destination for migrants.

In Futurebrand's Country Brand Index (CBI) 2008, Australia ranked number one in the world for the place people would most like to live in outside of their home country.

The CBI surveys 2700 international business and leisure travellers about 30 different categories, including standard of living, art and culture, food, value for money, accommodation, shopping, political freedom and activities.
The results of the poll show that besides their home country, most people would like to move to Australia than any other place in the world.

The author of the study said of Australia, "Friendly people, nice weather, natural beauty, and a stable government make Australia the place where people most want to live."

Australia also won the coveted award for best-branded country in the world, and the country business travellers are most likely to extend their business trip for holidaying purposes than in any other country, followed by New Zealand. Participants also voted Australia the best country for outdoor activities and sports, also followed by New Zealand.

"Australia is a leading business destination that also offers a wide variety of great leisure attractions for professional business travellers… In Australia, you can climb the Harbour Bridge, explore the Australian wilderness, surf Bells Beach, ski Mount Kosciuszko, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef… and more."

Voters put Australia third in the world for the place they would most like to visit or revisit and fourth in the world for choices of resorts and lodgings

The Australian Prime Minister has released plans for a $4.7 billion stimulus plan to boost the country's economy amidst the global economic crisis, reports Bloomberg.

The government released the plans after concerns that China's slowing economy would reduce demand for Australia's biggest revenue earner, natural resources.

The money would directly fund infrastructure projects around the county, including rail, roads and education, and is hoped to increase economic growth by one quarter to half a per cent.

Earlier this year the government also implanted a stimulus package of $26 billion, which went to families, home buyers, pensioners, schools and hospitals. Also today, the Rudd government announced a $440 million tax-break for small businesses, which employs around 1.7 million people.

The stimulus plan will be spent over the next four years, and is predicted to create 32,000 jobs.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Evans has put fears at rest that the global financial crisis would cause a drastic reduction in Australia's skilled migration quota, reports The Australian.

According to business groups, a reduction in the Australian migration quota would tarnish the country's global image as a top choice destination for migrants.

Senator Evans has reassured the lobbying business groups that his government would not overreact to the global recession.

"[Immigration] is a global market, so your reputation and your brand is quite important," Senator Evans told reporters.

"So certainly a lot of the advice is: don't ruin the brand by knee-jerk reactions, because we're going to be wanting to recruit in these areas, if not this year, then the year after."

This financial year, Australian immigration levels reached record levels, with 31,000 extra taking the quota 190,300 visas for Australia, which comprised 133,500 skilled visa migrants.

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