The number of warnings given and penalties levied on employers for breaching the controversial 457 visa program has exploded in the past three years, backing union claims that the scheme is being widely exploited.

Department of Immigration figures obtained by The Australian show the number of formal warnings issued to employers for breaching aspects of the scheme leapt from 99 in 2005-06 to 1353 in 2007-08.

The number of employers who were actually sanctioned for violating the terms of the program also spiked, going from just three in 2005-06 to 192 in 2007-08.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24737375-2702,00.html