The Business Council of Australia has urged the Gillard government to expand temporary skilled migration and called for wage rises to be tied to productivity gains in deals negotiated under Labor's Fair Work laws.

As concerns about the impact of worsening skills shortages on the resources sector grow, the BCA has urged the government to overhaul the 457 visa program and to introduce a new form of fast-tracked labour agreement -- an enterprise migration agreement -- for big projects.

http://www.theaustralian.com.a...frg8zx-1226005373480