It’s time to ease-up on employers and let them focus on business rather than lose days/weeks on DIBP investigations. DIBP had stepped up the investigation of employers over the last few years after the Labor party under union pressure tightened the sc457 program on the claims that there were some 10,000 cases of misuse of the sc457 visa program. That claim has however now been been debunked after 16 months of investigation.

Of the 1267 employer sponsors of sc457 workers investigated for alleged rorts, only 25 were found to be in serious breach of their obligations, according to a report in The Australian. The vast majority of employers investigated were found to be compliant in their obligations which included paying the appropriate salary rates and having the foreign workers work in the nominated occupations.

The Australian reports that rorts in the 457 skilled visa program are a fraction of those claimed by the former Labor government, thus undercutting union campaigns against the ­demand-driven system.

After 16 months of investigations, by the department of immigration, the sc457 is looking like its working as intended confirming the findings of the sc457 review.

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Michaelia Cash told The Australian: “The politically motivated allegations of widespread rorting within the 457 program are exaggerated claims and made by those who want to see the program ended. “

DIBPs monitoring of employers increased by some 20%, according to its annual report due to the claims of Labour and the unions. However, despite the recent findings, indications are that the Coalition will maintain investigations at the same levels: “What we will do is ensure that we continue to focus on strengthening compliance and integrity measures within the skilled migration program with the same energy and commitment that we have demonstrated in stopping illegal boat arrivals,’’ Senator Cash said.

The Immigration Department’s annual report shows that at June 30 this year there were 195,071 subclass 457 visa holders in Australia, of whom 55.8 per cent were primary visa holders. There were 35,285 active sponsors of primary 457 visa holders in 2013-14.