Resources Sector Jobs Board gathers support

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Created on Wednesday, 13 June 2012 11:42

Written by Editorial staff

The Resources Sector Jobs Board officially launched earlier this week (June 10) in a bid to help Australians apply for positions before they are opened up to migrant workers.

Locals will be able to view and express an interest in resource sector jobs, while enabling companies covered by Enterprise Migration Agreements to show they have offered positions to Australian workers.

Only then will they be able to support overseas employees in their bid for migration visas - a process that registered migration agents are able to assist with.

The Resources Sector Jobs Board has been met with praise from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), which believes the service is necessary for major projects in the sector.

The union had raised concerns about the Roy Hill Enterprise Migration Agreement, saying that companies should have the option to employ Australian workers before turning to temporary migrant workers.

ACTU secretary Dave Oliver also emphasised the need for migrants to receive the protection they need while working in Australia.

He commented: "We have also had concerns about temporary migration to prevent the exploitation of foreign workers and to ensure they are afforded the same rights, protections and conditions as Australian workers."

Mr Oliver emphasised that due to heavy job losses in the eastern states there is a growing number of Australians who want to work in the resources sector.

As the industry continues to grow, the union acknowledges that there will be a need for change.

"The forecast size of expansion of the sector may require employers to look beyond our shores, and unions have never opposed skilled migration," the ACTU secretary noted.

This is far from the only recent change affecting Australian immigration at the moment - migrants also have an online service that they can use to find positions in a range of sectors, which will be made available from July 1.

SkillSelect enables individuals who are considering a move to Australia to put forward an Expression of Interest.

They can then be found or nominated for skilled visas by state and territory government, or even Australian employers - it is also possible for the federal government to invite the individual to lodge a visa application.

Once an invitation has been received via SkillSelect, the applicant has 60 days to make a valid application online, otherwise the invitation will expire.

It is hoped that the new system will streamline the application process for overseas workers and employers alike.