Accusations of workers manipulating the 457 immigration visa system

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Created on Friday, 01 March 2013 16:06

Written by Editorial staff

A number of skilled workers are manipulating the controversial 457 immigration visa scheme to try and get through the back door into Australia.

Hospitality is one of the areas of concern, with foreign cooks and hotel bosses in the spotlight, in addition to management consultants, accountants and recruitment experts, the Herald Sun reports.

It is believed that those who don't qualify to remain in Australia after finishing their time as overseas students are staying here through shady means.

Monash University expert Dr Bob Birrell told News Limited that the expansion of the 457 system has been justified through the mining system, in a bid to fill the employment gaps.

Dr Birrell explained that just about one in ten of 457 visa holders were in the resources sector, and that employers have not been forced to examine the local market for skilled workers.

"There is no labour market testing at all by employers wishing to sponsor 457 visas," he said.

In the 2011-12 financial year, 1,161 civil engineers obtained the immigration visas, followed by 383 mining engineers and 228 petroleum engineers - according to Department of Immigration and Citizenship data, published in the Herald Sun.

Of the visa itself, Dr Birrell explained that there are a number of holders who are in positions outside the mining sector.

He explained: "Among others on 457 visas last year were 2,400 cooks and chefs, 1,630 management consultants, 1,500 accountants, 1,400 GPs, 960 recruitment consultants and 400 customer service managers."

The population expert said that more than half of 457 visa holders from last year were former students and "working holiday" visitors.

It comes as the federal government introduced new laws for the 457 visa system, where increased scrutiny is being designed to protect Australian workers.

Among the many government recommendations, the changes will see further scrutiny on a wider salary basis, with the exemption threshold rising from $180,000 to $250,000.

These changes are in addition to previous reforms, where in 2009, the 457 visa system was modified with the intention of increasing the cost to recruit overseas employees and to expand the punishment system for employers who were hurting the system.

There has been a great backlash from interested parties, with businesses claiming that all these reforms will do is hurt the employment prospects of everyone.