Applications for the temporary skilled (457) visa for workers migrating to Australia have halved since this time a year ago, after more stringent workplace laws came into force.
Immigration figures released yesterday show that applications plummeted 49 per cent in the five months to November, after the laws required employers to pay equal wages and lift conditions for foreign workers. Across the country, the average salary of those on 457 visas jumped to $85,300, up from $74,700 in the same period a year earlier. More than a fifth of the country’s temporary skilled migrants work in the state of Victoria.
”Registered nurses, general medical practitioners and medical practitioners in training top the list of occupations, along with computing professionals,” said Immigration Minister Chris Evans, adding that ”almost 90 per cent of primary visas granted were to managers and administrators, professionals or associated professionals.”
Applications began picking up through October and November as employers became familiar with the rules enforced in September, the report said. For more detail click here
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