| The 457 work visa program was introduced by the | | | | economy. This shortage of skills has pushed |
| Australian government some time ago although | | | | remuneration packages higher and higher for those |
| recently the authorities have been forced to change | | | | who gain entry to the country - often to the detriment |
| the terms and conditions of this program after criticism | | | | of the domestic Australian workforce. |
| from the domestic workforce. So what exactly is a | | | | Australian immigration |
| visa 457? | | | | Australia has for some time had one of the more |
| The 457 working visa allows companies trading in | | | | user-friendly immigration programs in the world and this |
| Australia to bring in temporary staff from the | | | | has assisted the Australian economy for many years. |
| overseas to assist with setting up a new office, setting | | | | The potential to apply for permanent residency after |
| up a new contract or generally assisting with the | | | | receiving a 457 visa is in effect a reward for helping |
| running of their Australian operation. It has proved to be | | | | the Australian government and helping |
| very helpful to companies moving to Australia, allowing | | | | Australian-based companies trade as profitably and |
| them a method by which to bring in staff who are fully | | | | efficiently as possible. |
| trained up on their systems and their way of trading. | | | | Conclusion |
| Problems with the 457 working visa | | | | There is no doubt that without the visa 457 system life |
| One of the main problems regarding this visa system | | | | in Australia for new companies would be much more |
| is the fact that government authorities believe some | | | | difficult and it would take much longer to bed down a |
| overseas agents may well be abusing the service. A | | | | business. While the unions and the domestic Australian |
| 457 working visa will also allow the recipient to bring | | | | workforce are obviously concerned about the loss of |
| their family to Australia who will also be able to work in | | | | jobs to overseas workers, in the long term we should |
| the country and possibly apply for permanent | | | | see these skills transferred to the Australian domestic |
| residency in due course. It is perhaps easy to see | | | | workforce. This may be taking a little while longer than |
| where the potential abuse of the system comes in | | | | many had hoped but there are signs of progress. |
| when you consider the conditions attached to this | | | | While the Australian economy itself has grown |
| particular visa. | | | | significantly over the years, and continues to attract |
| Changes to the visa 457 system | | | | international companies, the country offers a very |
| The Australian government decided to change the | | | | interesting and potentially lucrative base from which to |
| visa system in October 2007 effectively reducing the | | | | attack the Asia-Pacific market. This is a fact which |
| number of recruitment companies who could bring in | | | | many companies are now taken into account and why |
| short-term staff. This allows the authorities to keep | | | | many people believe that the Australian government |
| more control of the system but it has also led to a | | | | will need to loosen the strings on the visa 457 system |
| shortage of skills in various areas of the Australian | | | | in due course. |