A shocking report on the ABC's 7:30 program on Thursday revealed the terrible extent of abuse of the 457 visa system. Big businesses are going out of their way to avoid Australian applicants and often not even advertising positions locally.
7:30 showed footage of a US-based lawyer coaching employers on how to avoid hiring local workers to make way for cheaper labour from overseas.
The total number of 457 visa workers in Australia at 31 March 2012 was at an all-time high of 88,590 -- an increase of 22% in comparison with 12 months ago.
This is exactly why we need fix the system by passing the legislation currently facing Parliament and teetering on a knife's edge. It's time for proper government regulation to protect all workers, and ensure that employers are not using short-term immigration when they could - and should - be employing or training local workers.
As it turns out, everyone loses in the current system. There have been too many cases where workers on 457 visas have been underpaid, abused and subjected to sub-standard conditions of work.
At the same time, the 457 visa program has undermined good working conditions in Australia by enabling employers who are unable to attract local labour as a result of offering poor wages and conditions, or who are unwilling to train workers in areas of skills needs, choosing instead to sponsor workers from overseas.
There's not much time, but together, we have the power to improve the conditions for all workers -- foreign and domestic -- here in Australia. Add your voice to the thousands already fighting to fix this broken system and stand with Dave Oliver and union members as they fight for change in Canberra on Monday.
No comments:
Post a Comment