457 Visa review

The first in a series of three issues papers on the Subclass 457 visa arrangements has been released by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. The issue paper is part of a review into the integrity of the Subclass 457 visa program, conducted by industrial relations expert, Barbara Deegan.

The review follows concerns raised about the exploitation of migrant workers, salary levels and English language requirements of the temporary skilled migration program.

The first issues paper considers the Minimum Salary Level requirements and Labour Agreements in the context of the Subclass 457 visa arrangements. The full issues paper can be viewed at the  Immigration Department Website

The ATA’s Skills and Workforce KRA will discuss the issues paper at its next meeting, as well as developing a response to the removal of a number of road driver occupations from the list of eligible occupations for the temporary business Subclass 457 Visa program.

The occupations of heavy truck driver, furniture removalist, automobile driver and delivery driver were removed from the program on 1 July. This change in eligibility follows the final report to Government from the Trucking Industry Working Group.

The final report contained a range of findings; most significantly it stated that only slight growth was expected for the occupation of truck driver over the next five years. It also reported unemployment and vacancy rates as average, with most new vacancies arising from people changing jobs or leaving the industry.

This finding came even after the ATA demonstrated the current situation of the industry in relation to skills shortages in a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration Inquiry into Temporary Business Visas last year.

The finding is completely inconsistent with the industry’s experience, numerous research reports and the work done by the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC).