Immigration needs to open doors to more than 96,000 farm workers in Australia

Immigration needs to open doors to more than 96,000 farm workers in Australia

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) is calling on the Rudd Government to ease immigration laws to allow Pacific islanders to come to Australia on a seasonal basis and pick fruit and vegetables.

It also wants the maintenance of financial incentives for Australians to take on agriculture and horticulture apprentices.

Australia’s rural areas are in dire need for more farm workers, and it all started after farm owners let thousands of employees go during the drought period.

But now these very same farm owners are struggling to find enough people to help them capitalise on better times.

The NFF warns that this worker shortage is already hitting farm production, negatively impacting regional economies and cutting Australia's economic growth.

According to the NFF’s calculations, the rural sector has a shortfall of 96,000 people in the top seven types of agricultural jobs. This includes heavy farm equipment operators, farm hands, shearers and livestock farmers.

Even though Victoria has continued to experience below-average rainfall in most districts, its farmers are still reporting shortages of horticulturalists, fruit pickers, dairy workers and shearers.

If this immigration does not open its doors to farm workers soon, some experts fear this labour force shortage could add to food price inflation, if it means crops cannot be planted, harvested or picked in time.

The NFF report, which highlights the reasons behind the shortage of farm workers, will soon be presented to the Federal Government's Agricultural Production Working Group, which was established last year to examine labour shortages.

The NFF's general manager of workplace relations, Denita Wawn, said these shortages had already forced some farmers off the land, lowered farm production and, consequently, hurt economic growth.

Skilled immigration could earn you an above average wage in Australia!

Skilled immigration could earn you an above average wage in Australia!

Figures from the Ministry of Immigration have revealed that overseas workers in higher skilled areas are earning wages well above their Australian counterparts.

With a strong Australian dollar overseas workers are now reaping the benefits of Australia's work visa scheme, indicating that a large majority of Australian employers are providing favourable conditions for their foreign employees.

Even better news is that we’ve decided to extend our March offer on our two Australian Migration Services most applicable to your situation for another month!

Until 30 April 2008, you can save AU$500 on the Premium Migration Service. With this service, your assigned registered migration consultant will take care of the entire application process for you from start to finish.

Or you can opt for the Advanced Migration Service (AMS), where, if purchased before the 30th of April 2008, you’ll get 2 additional months' Online Migration Service valued at AU$200 for free.

The AMS provides you with a detailed breakdown of the visa requirements and a step-by-step guide which will help you self-manage your visa application to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). It provides you with cost-effective personalised advice, information and application forms in one complete package.

To take advantage of any of these two offers, just log into the Client Area by using your registered email address and password that you've selected for our site.

Advanced Migration Service: refer to the Advanced Migration Service alert.

Premium Migration Service: refer to the Premium Migration Service alert.

If you have any questions about these specials or would like to have more information, please feel free to call any of our global office locations listed below or submit your questions via the Client Area. Our Client Services staff will be happy to help you.

Kind Regards,

Natalie Lo Bianco
Client Service Manager
Migration Expert Pty Ltd

Sponsoring Workers Going to Australia

Lots of businesses in Australia need employees to fill in the vacant positions in their offices. Some of them want Australians as part of their workforce but there are other businesses that are willing to subsidize qualified applicants and give work to deserving candidates�whatever country you may come from.

Through the Temporary Employer-Sponsored Workers program, Australian businesses would be able to hire workers from any part of the world and hopeful Australian visa applicants would be able to make their dreams of working and living in Australia come true.

Employers who need personnel may sponsor qualified applicants through an employer-sponsorship arrangement. This arrangement would allow migrants to stay and work in Australia as a skilled worker temporarily for up to four years.

Backing up qualified employees is as easy as 1-2-3. One way is through sponsorship by an Australian or overseas business. Business sponsorship is classified as Temporary Business Sponsorship and Overseas Business Sponsorship. The former allows employers to back up a number of temporary business entrants within a two-year period while in the latter, businesses that do not have formal operating offices in Australia may sponsor entrants to fulfill contracts and obligations in other businesses in Australia and to establish a branch, joint venture, or agency distributorship in Australia.

Businesses that use Temporary Business Sponsorship should:

demonstrate to the department that they can satisfy the sponsorship criteria, including their ability to comply with undertakings in relation to the approved number of sponsored employees

lodge the nomination and visa applications well before the given period of time expires

make new sponsorship applications if they wish to sponsor additional entrants

Businesses that use Overseas Business Sponsorship should:

complete the sponsorship and nomination form 1196

make sponsorship undertakings

In order to sponsor workers in going to Australia, Australian businesses must be willing to abide by the sponsoship regulations stated in the sponsorship forms formulated by the Australian government. They should, also, manifest proofs that the business/businessman:

is abiding the Australian law and is active in the business;

will be the direct employer of the temporary business entrant;

has a good business record and abides by immigration laws;

will bring benefit to Australia through the employment of a temporary resident; and

will advance skills through technology or training.

Source: Australian Immigration (http://immi.gov.au)

Australia needs skills

Australia is looking for skilled Filipino workers who are fluent in the English language to be part of its Skilled Migration Program. Applicants should have professional or trade skills included in the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) and must be under 45 years old. Click here for Expo Information for Overseas Skilled Workers

Exploitation of Australia's Skilled Immigration Program

The Australia 457 Visa Scheme

Skilled workers are highly in-demand in Australia nowadays and so many Filipinos are eager to grab the opportunity. However, so many people dreams of landing a job in Australia that sometimes taking time to ensure that you will enjoy proper working conditions in your host country are ignored.

If you are a skilled worker with a job offer in Australia, it is advisable that you study the provisions stated in your contract. Many companies in Australia are hiring skilled foreign workers via the Visa 457 scheme or the employer nominated temporary residence visas for Australia.

The Visa 457 was set up by the Howard government and allows Australian employers to bring in foreign workers to Australia. The problem with this skilled immigration system is that it mainly works for the benefit of the employer and has provisions that put the workers to a disadvantage.

For one, the 457 visa program compels the workers to sign individual contracts and pay dubious fees for immigration expenses. They are also offered a salary lower than their Australian counterparts and face the risk of being deported if they question their conditions.

Many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been victimized by Visa 457. They are forced to sign blank documents and were charged with very expensive immigration fees. They are also obliged to live in an overpriced house that slices off a big chunk out of their monthly salary. The 457 Visa also makes it difficult to transfer to a new employer as it requires them to return to their home country first.

Overseas workers are more easily exploited because they are at the mercy of their employers. They cannot join their fellow workers in industrial action or standing up for their rights without fear of being fired and forced to leave the country.

One organization, the Australian Manufacturing Worker’s Union (AMWU) fights the unfair provisions of the Visa 457 and assist exploited workers. They defend the rights of their members to receive proper salary and be given decent working conditions. Overseas workers need to have the same rights, the same pay, and the same conditions as their Australian co-workers.

For assistance on 457 visa, you can contact the AMWU Helpdesk at +61 2 8863 7900 or send an email at amwu@amwu.asn.au. You can also call a local number 421-1049 and ask for Australia 457 visa assistance.