24 April 2008

Guest worker Australian visa proposal announced

Applying for an Australian visa may become easier as the federal government is considering introducing a guest worker scheme. The plans would allow businesses to employ low-skilled workers from abroad and allow them to engage in Australian immigration on a temporary basis, reports Smart Company. It is thought the scheme could present a solution to the current skills shortage and was discussed at last week's 2020 summit.

Paul Howes, national secretary for the Australian Workers' Union, said he thought the plans were inevitable. "We are changing our view because we believe that industry and the government are more committed to a more transparent process," he added. Recently the head of a major construction firm said that more semi-skilled workers should be allowed into the country via the Australian visa scheme to fill skills shortages. The federal government is currently seeking information from New Zealand on the success of their pilot scheme. The website points out that it will be of greatest help to the agricultural sector, for jobs like fruit picking.

Australia needs skilled workers: Anyone applying for an Australian visa should begin by completing the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa application to see if they meet the Australian visa requirements.