In a bid to maintain 457 visa programme integrity, the Australian Immigration Department has announced a number of changes to the 457 Temporary Business Long Stay Visa.

The 457 visa programme was instituted to allow Australian employers to source scarce skills from other countries. It has grown rapidly as widespread skills shortages in the Australian market have made it impossible for recruiters to find employees with the necessary skill sets locally.

However, the government has been under pressure to tighten the programme as union leaders and local recruiters argue that in its existing form, it has the potential to threaten the local job market.

A number of key changes to the 457 visa programme were announced in a government press release issued on the 1st of April 2009. These changes include, but are not limited to:

• A market-based MSL to be implemented for all new and existing 457 visa holders – effective mid-September 2009
• The minimum English language requirement from an IELTS test score will be increased 4.5 to 5 for 457 visa applicants in trade occupations and chefs
• Formal skills assessment will be introduced progressively from 1 July 2009 for 457 visa applicants from high risk immigration countries in trade occupations and chefs
• Employers will be required to demonstrate a commitment to employing and training local labour, as well as demonstrating non-discriminatory employment practices.

“The DIAC hopes that these measures will assist to restore faith and integrity to the 457 visa programme by allowing consistency across the board,” said Bruce Mills, Joint CEO of 3W Consulting, Contracting & Recruitment Pty Ltd. “It aims to ensure that the needs and best interests of overseas workers are addressed without undermining local labour in any way.”

According to DIAC records, the global economic slowdown has impacted on the number of people applying for 457 visas. The numbers dwindled from 700 applicants per week (in the six months to December 2008) to just 430 per week in the first three months of 2009.