Employers must put locals first

Mar 2, 2010

The Rudd Government does not support any employer who seeks to use the temporary skilled migration program as a substitute for local labour.

Temporary overseas workers on Subclass 457 visas are only to be employed if skilled labour cannot be sourced locally.

The Rudd Government recognises the need for industry to access skilled overseas labour where there are demonstrated skills shortages but it is important that the program complements domestic recruitment and is not used to replace local workers.

Our priority is to provide training and job opportunities for Australians.

A range of measures introduced by the Rudd Government in consultation with industry and unions last year ensures that temporary skilled overseas workers on Subclass 457 visas are not employed ahead of local workers or used to undermine Australian wages and conditions.

The Rudd Government’s worker protection laws, which came into effect on 14 September 2009, includes the requirement to pay overseas workers market salary rates so that Subclass 457 visa holders are on the same wages and conditions of employment as those provided to an Australian worker undertaking equivalent work in the same workplace.

Figures released last month show that almost 90 per cent of temporary skilled migrants who were granted Subclass 457 visas in the first seven months of 2009-10 to are managers and professional workers.

The figures also show that the average total salary package for all new temporary skilled migrant workers is almost $100 000 – an increase of $10 000 on the same time last year.

In Western Australia, the average total salary package for all new Subclass 457 visa workers is $114 800 and $165 500 in the WA mining industry.

There has also been a dramatic reduction in the number of visas granted. Primary visa grants in January 2010 were 45 per cent lower than January 2009 and 6 per cent lower than December 2009. And at the end of January 2010 there were 71 290 Subclass 457 primary visa holders in Australia. This was 13 per cent lower than the end of January 2009.

The report is available online at: www.immi.gov.au/media/statistics/

Media Contact: Simon Dowding – (08) 9481 4844 or 0411 138 541

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