Blog

The Government has supported the majority of the recommendations that were made by the Review Committee in the Report. The Government notes the importance of the 457 programme in supplementing the Australian workforce while protecting Australian jobs. The overriding aim of the Government in accepting these recommendations was to ensure the integrity of the programme, while facilitating sponsorship of overseas workers and streamlining 457 processes for trusted and low risk business sponsors.

While full details of the implementation of the recommendations are not yet available, the following information on some of the recommendations has been supplied by the Department for MIA Member information:

Training Benchmarks A and B will be replaced with an annual training fund contribution based on the number of 457 sponsored and with the contributions scaled according to the size of the sponsoring organization. These contributions will be made to the Department of Industry and directed to areas of identified training need.

It will be made unlawful for a sponsor to be paid by a visa holder to be sponsored and a strong penalty and conviction will be applied.

Labour market testing will not be abolished, however, the Department will examine ways to reduce the burden to employers and red tape in this process

The English language level will be altered to an IELTS average of 5 overall, with no less than 4.5 in any band (7.1) Alternate English language test providers are likely to be announced next month

SBS approvals will be extended from 3 to 5 years and from 12 to 18 months for start up businesses.  These new approval time frames will commence from the time of renewal or new applications for SBS. Current approvals will not be extended to these time frames

Visa charges are being reviewed as part of the Joint Review of Border Fees, Charges and Taxes

The age limitations and the TRT time frames for transition to ENS are being reviewed as part of the Skilled Migration and 400 Visa Series Review, but the recommendations on these from the 457 review are supported

Information provided to sponsors will be reviewed and revised for clarity, but further resources will not be allocated

The Department advises that most of the changes arising out of these recommendations will occur over the next six months and some such as additional English language providers are already in progress.  Those recommendations that require consultation with stakeholders may not come into force until 2016.

The Department will be providing the MIA with further information for MIA members within the coming weeks and which will be disseminated as soon as possible.

Source: www.mia.org.au/documents/item/602