Increased demand for low-skilled immigrants in Australia

Australia, 5th September: Australia is witnessing a higher demand for low-skilled immigrant workers following a boom in mining and infrastructure works.

Taking a cue from this, the government of Australia has lowered the eligibility criteria for immigrant workforce in Australia.

Increase in 457 Australian visas for skilled temporary immigrants—As per the latest official figures, the number of Australian 457 visas issued to skilled immigrants enabling them to get temporary jobs in Australia has witnessed a hike of 40 percent in the year 2010.

This increase in grant of Australian work visas for foreign workers is despite a high rate of joblessness in the nation.

As per the Australian immigration department’s figures, a total of 54,360 Australian visas were granted to foreigners during the year 2010-11, which is an increase of 40 percent over the previous year. Currently, there are around 73,500 skilled immigrants working in different sectors including hospitality, mining, health, construction and others.

On an average, these foreign workers in Australia take home around $100,000 annually.

Australia invites semi-skilled immigrants through fast-track visa—As per the new move by Australian government, the nation has offered a fast-track visa program for enabling semi-skilled or low skilled immigrants to come and work in Australia.

Under this scheme of DIAC(Department of Immigration and Citizenship), infrastructure and mining firms will get the opportunity to offer fast-track visas to immigrant workers denied visas earlier.

The only consideration will be that the employers must show that the demand for low-skilled workers cannot be met within Australia.

The policy to allow higher number of low-skilled or semi-skilled workers goes hand in hand with the increasing trend of skilled workforce’s immigration into Australia.

As per the latest guidelines issued by Australian immigration department DIAC, firms will be provided with an abundant supply of skilled immigrant workers while curbing the annual intake of unskilled jobs in Australia.

Hire foreign skilled workers on Australian working conditions—Skilled immigrant workers will be hired by Australian firms on Australian working conditions, the guidelines have maintained.

Hence, employers offering sponsorships to immigrant workers must ensure to have same conditions and terms of employment equivalent to the conditions provided to any Australian worker to work in the workplace at the similar location.

In addition, the living conditions for immigrant workers must be same as offered to domestic workers, the guidelines further maintain. The eligibility criteria to recruit skilled immigrant workers will be a company having a capital expenditure exceeding $2 billion and total employees exceeding 1500.