Changes to Australia 457 visa rules for solving skills shortage

Australia, 25th January: Australia has introduced changes to its 457 visa program for addressing severe shortage of skilled workforce in the nation.

This was revealed by Martin Ferguson, Australia minister for tourism.

New labor agreement to boost job prospects in tourism industry—The Federal government’s latest template labor agreement is aimed to reduce shortage of skilled workforce in the tourism and hospitality industry of Australia.

The initiative is the result of collaborations between Ferguson and Australian immigration minister Chris Bowen.

It will assist Australian tourism get foreign workers by formulating a set of conditions for recruiting foreign workers in tourism businesses.

56,000 tourism job positions in Australia by 2015--By the year 2015, Australian tourism sector is expected to witness around 56,000 vacant job positions calling for immediate steps to fill these by hiring international workers, said Minister Ferguson.

Around 36,000 job positions are already waiting to be filled in tourism and hospitality industry of Australia, he stated.

So, the employment situation is indeed critical in Australia, he clarified. Giving further details, Minister Ferguson added that Australian economy gets annual revenue of nearly $35 billion through Australia’s tourism sector.

Hence, the government wants to make sure to address looming skills shortage that could restrict tourism industry of the nation.

The initiative has been named as National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, Tourism 2020, Ferguson maintained. The new template will enable employers in Australia nominate foreign workers for temporary skilled 457 visas.

Immigration minister Bowen stated that the template aims to strike a balance between providing employers with easier access to foreign workers having skills in short supply in Australia and upholding Australian visa standards.

It will be applicable for hiring hotel professionals, chefs, bar attendants, waiters, and other workers needed in hospitality and tourism sector.

The only consideration will be that the employers in Australia will have to demonstrate that they are putting their best effort for giving preference to domestic workers by providing them required training as well as offering them market rates, Bowen cautioned.

New paper welcomed by Tourism sector—Australian tourism businesses have welcomed the step of introducing new paper by the federal government to ease looming skills shortage in tourism and hospitality industry.

Chief executive of Tourism and Transport Forum John Lee said it’s a great move by the government and asked tourism businesses to provide feedback.