Increased foreign workers immigrating to Australia

Australia, 20th April: Australia has reported increased immigration of foreign workers under 457 visa program.

Foreigners filling construction, mining jobs in Australia— As per figures for one year till February 2012 made available by Australian immigration department –DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship), Australia’s Queensland is witnessing an increase of 34 percent in the number of foreigners coming to work in Australia on 457 visas.

And majority of such workers are getting involved in mining or construction jobs, the figures further maintain. A total of 2,500 foreigners arrived in Queensland to work on construction and mining jobs in 2011.

Growing demand for talented foreign workers—Even as the number of foreigners coming to Australia’s mining regions is moving up, the demand for talented immigrants is increasing day by day.

Australia’s booming construction and mining industry is feeling a whopping need for foreign workers.

The number of construction workers coming to Australia is going up every year, while the mining sector attracted 1,180 foreign workers in the period of last one year. Nearly 1,360 foreign workers possessing construction skills immigrated to Australia on Australian 457 visas in the period of last 12 months.

And this is exactly double the number of construction workers arriving in Australia in 2011. The UK is the biggest source of migrant workers to Australia’s mining sector. India and the US follow next in terms of filling the demand for Australian construction industry.

457 visa workers vulnerable to exploitation—Meanwhile, many feel that foreigners coming to Australia on 457 visas can be exploited by their employers. They can be compelled to work on lower wages, may be sent back home in case they dare to report about their wage or safety conditions, states Michael Ravbarcor, construction state secretary of Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union.

Moreover, such foreign workers could also be threatened for cancelation of their Australian visas, Ravbarcor further alleged.

Speaking about the so-called shortage of skilled workers, he said the situation has been exaggerated to a great extend by businesses. However, Nick Behrenscor, advocacy general manager of Chamber of Commerce Industry Queensland, has some other story to relate.

He says demand for skilled workers is increasing since many such workers are unwilling to relocate to regional territories or areas.