457 visa fraud

aido79

http://www.watoday.com.au/national/immigration-raids-major--firm-over-alleged-visa-fraud-20150204-135vev.html

Its going to be interesting to see the outcome of this. No doubt it will make it even harder for people to get sponsored even for people with qualifications and skills. To be honest I think the 457 scheme is on its last legs.

mandrake04

aido79 wrote: »

http://www.watoday.com.au/national/immigration-raids-major--firm-over-alleged-visa-fraud-20150204-135vev.html

Its going to be interesting to see the outcome of this.

This is old news, although the raids are response to allegations that people working for certain companies were 'on the take' when it comes to 457 visas bogus skilled jobs for the boys that could lead to PR.... at a price of course.

My brother-in-laws housemate works for DIAC, she was amazed at some of the stories I told her about 457 visas and self-sponsorship even showed her some posts on here.

aido79 wrote: »

[ No doubt it will make it even harder for people to get sponsored even for people with qualifications and skills. To be honest I think the 457 scheme is on its last legs.

Not really, if you are genuine and your employer is genuine its not a problem.

Over all 457 are down after the crackdown, from what I hear nominations have been reduced as either refusals or because some employers are now simply feeling the heat.

Look at the numbers of 457 grants to Irish people over the last 18 months, down 42% last fiscal year and only 1460 primary grants over the last 6 month compared with 3250 over the same period in 2012. That's a 44% drop.

aido79

I realise this story isn't new. I first about it a few months ago. I just think that DIAC are going to make a few changes to the 457 program due to companies like this rorting the system and rising unemployment. There isn't the same demand for skills as there was when the 457 system was first introduced. One thing I can see happening at some stage is that the person looking to get sponsored will have to prove that they actually do have skills/qualifications which doesn't happen as it is now. For genuine applicants this won't be a problem but for people who are chancing their arm and getting sponsored to do jobs that could be done by the average Australian with an IQ above 70 it might be.

catbear

The slowdown in mining would account for a reduction in 457s. On the other hand language concessions are been made for temp workers in nursing homes that can't source local workers who can speak Italian and greek. The rules will change to suit needs. There was even calls to offer asyslum seekers residency if they fulfil a five year unbroken stint to rural areas that can't attract anyone.

ArseBurger

aido79 wrote: »

There isn't the same demand for skills as there was when the 457 system was first introduced.

The demand for skills is fluid. This is why the SOL is changed yearly. Rorting of the systems has tended to be in the mining, construction, and hospitality industries.

mandrake04

aido79 wrote: »

I realise this story isn't new. I first about it a few months ago. I just think that DIAC are going to make a few changes to the 457 program due to companies like this rorting the system and rising unemployment. There isn't the same demand for skills as there was when the 457 system was first introduced.

There is a valid need for plugging gaps in skill shortages in the short term, which is what the 457 visa was designed for so there would still be a demand for certain occupations alright. The reason for no skills assessment (for low risk countries) is that getting a skills assessment can be time consuming and this reduces the supposed flexibility of the 457 in the first place.

Interestingly the government is rumoured to be bringing in a 12 month mobility work permit as an easier alternative to 457, this will have the flexibility of 457 plus no need to prove Labor Market Testing.

Unlike the 457 it's likely not to have a route to Permanent Residence.

The problem with the 457 rorts is that it's a route for unskilled to PR, mere unskilled labourers sponsored as project administrators with a nod and a wink not to mention a fat brown envelope placed in someone's pocket to ensure it happens.

aido79 wrote: »

One thing I can see happening at some stage is that the person looking to get sponsored will have to prove that they actually do have skills/qualifications which doesn't happen as it is now. For genuine applicants this won't be a problem but for people who are chancing their arm and getting sponsored to do jobs that could be done by the average Australian with an IQ above 70 it might be.

It's already happening for the last 18 months for two occupations Project/Program administrator and Specialist Manager NEC require mandatory skills assessment by the independent assessing body to be approved for all countries. It been claimed that these two occupations were widely abused.

There is a list of occupations that applicants from a certain list of high risk countries require a skills assessment for 457, this has been the case for a number of years.

Mellor

I don't think I've ever heard the phrase "rorting" in relation to anything other than the 457 system.

cheves

they slap a few wrists

pay a few fines

then its business as usual


cheap labour

AngryHippie

cheves wrote: »

they slap a few wrists

pay a few fines

then its business as usual

cheap labour

That depends. They could lose out on government funded work, as they have either cocked up their diligence checks, or deliberately ignored the immigration legislation(I'm not going to speculate on which )
Either way where TMR MRWA or RTA projects are concerned, having an ongoing legal action for breach of immigration, fair work or WHS law can prevent you from being awarded current tenders. It wouldn't impact current commitments, as the costs and delays of changing would be a nightmare, but certainly for future works they could end up finding it difficult to win those contracts. If they are on-the-ball, they have done their dilligence checks and complied on any government work they have. If that is the case, then this will just be a blip on the radar and will vanish like a fart on the wind.

ArseBurger

Mellor wrote: »

I don't think I've ever heard the phrase "rorting" in relation to anything other than the 457 system.

It's used heavily in the legal and tax/financial areas too.

catbear

I hear rorting used all the time for expenses fraud in politics. I don't know why they say fraud.