As announced earlier, standard business sponsors able to reduce working hours without breaching Condition 8107/8607 or the business being in breach of their employer obligations.
However, those who have been laid off and are currently unemployed will need to find another employer within 60 days or make arrangements to leave Australia, where this is possible.
Holders of temporary work visas currently employed in COVID-19 critical sectors including but not limited to health care, aged and disability care, childcare, or agriculture and food processing may be eligible for a Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Agreement Event stream (COVID-19 Pandemic event visa). The criteria for this visa has broadened as a result of recent announcements regarding what are currently considered to be critical skills sectors.
COVID-19 Pandemic event visa – Subclass 408
For temporary visa holders whose visa is due to expire and they are not working in a critical sector, and are unable to return home because of entry restrictions and you can’t meet the requirements for another visa, they still may be eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa. This is welcomed news by many who are unable to depart Australia at present.
For such applicants, they will need to demonstrate reasons they can’t meet the requirements for another visa. This could include a statement and evidence that they do not have access to sufficient funds to be able to pay a further visa application charge (VAC).