what’s news in immigration?

latest news 16 September 2008

Foreign students ''exploited''

11 September 2008
Foreign students living in Australia are in danger of being exploited by ''unscrupulous employers'', Australia's workplace watchdog says. The workplace ombudsman is investigating claims workers in 7-Eleven convenience stores throughout Melbourne's CBD, many of them foreign students, are being paid as little as $8 an hour. It is alleged the 7-Eleven staff are forced to work up to 12-hour shifts and unpaid 'trial' shifts.

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Island pickers plan labelled a quick fix

11 September 2008
Australia’s plan to plug labour shortfalls in the farming sector with fruit pickers from the Pacific islands may leave sectors in need of year-round workers scrambling, says a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. While temporary migration schemes can work well, the International Migration Outlook 2008 says those that target seasonal workers ignore industries requiring low-skilled workers all-year round. more...

Temporary visa workers exploited, says IR report

12 September 2008
Unscrupulous foreign migration agents are exploiting Australia's 457 visa system by extorting money from foreign workers and encouraging employers to overwork them. The concern has been raised in a paper by Industrial Relations Commissioner Barbara Deegan, who has been appointed by the Federal Government to examine the integrity of the 457 temporary visa scheme.

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Minister moves to protect overseas workers

4 September 2008
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. The Workplace Ombudsman's investigation into McDermott Industries (Australia) highlights the vulnerability of overseas workers and the need to ensure that they are not used to undermine local wages and conditions. This will ensure that overseas workers employed within the Australian Migration Zone are properly paid and Australian wages and conditions are not undermined.

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publications/conferences

Subclass 457 Integrity Review

The third in a series of three issues papers has been released as part of the Subclass 457 Integrity Review. As each of the issues papers are produced submissions will be sought from interested parties on the issues raised in each of the papers. Issues Paper no.3 – Integrity and Exploitation issues. The third issues paper considers a range of integrity and exploitation issues around the Subclass 457 Visa program, as well as monitoring and compliance. The closing date for submission on Issues Paper no. 3 is 7 October 2008. See: Issues Paper #3 - Integrity / Exploitation