Labor Market Testing Is Not Required For 'Highly Skilled Occupations'

20 Nov 2013

The new Liberal government of Australia has exempted ‘highly-skilled occupations’ from the visa application requirements that are soon coming into force for foreign workers coming to the country.

However, Senator Michaelia Cash, the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, says the government still completely supports the principle that Australian citizens and workers have priority over immigrants.

The previous Labor government has introduced the Migration Amendment (Temporary Sponsored Visas) Act 2013 in June, and after many delays the act will finally come into force on 23^rd November, 2013.

Under this law, companies who want to hire foreign workers on a 457 visa need to attempt to recruit appropriately qualified and experienced Australian Permanent Residents or Australian citizens to the position and any other similar positions, along with the details of advertising and money spent on that advertising.

However, for jobs defined as ‘highly skilled’ by Australian Immigration Authorities, this requirement has been removed. Cash said that to bind employers up in unnecessary red tape will only cost Australian jobs and impede Australian business over the long run.

The immigration authorities of Australia will exempt firms looking to hire workers in ‘Highly Skilled Occupations’ on the 457 visa class from the requirement for labor market testing.