Payment of a minimum salary and return travel costs for spouses are some of the draft regulations released by the federal government today for employers of subclass 457 visa workers.

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans said a panel of industry, union and state government representatives will begin assessing the proposed new regulations that will apply to all employers of subclass 457 visa holders.

http://www.wabusinessnews.com....r-subclass-457-visas

Hi Alan

Is the MIA likely to be consulted about the proposals?

Bits of the reported idea seem illogical to me.

1. The average Aussie on a "market rate of pay" has the option of choosing State education for his children at a comparitively low cost. Making the 457 holder pay private schooling rates simply takes away what you have just given him via the "market rate of pay" instead of the MSL.

2. The "market rate of pay" for an Aged Care Worker in Alice Springs is currently about $41,500. That was what McDonnell Shire were offering in a job advert recently. I'm helping a friend to job hunt so I checked the salary specifically to make sure it would be above the $39,100 for the Regional 457. (This lousy rate of pay is, of course, the reason why the local ladies in Alice Springs decline to apply for the job.) Would a single Mum in Oz on that sort of salary expect to be able to pay for private medical insurance for herself and her family?

3. The local worker in 2 above would be able to get free schooling for her children, a load of Benefits/tax assistance from Centrelink and I suspect she would not be able to afford private health insurance.

Wouldn't it be better simply to do away with the 457 visa than make it so unattractive that no migrant worker in his/or her right mind would agree to enter Oz using it?

I do hope they will conduct some proper consultations about this before they decide what to do.

Best wishes

Gill