Page 23 - Tropic Magazine Issue 38

TROPIC • BUSINESS

Migration matters

WORKFORCE
As staff shortages continue to
bite, more and more employers
are looking offshore to fill
vacancies. Foreign worker rules
have recently shifted, so Tropic
reached out to a local migration
expert to explain the changes.

Q&A 3 The government has also extended 5 What do local businesses need to
Rebecca Macmillan the period international students take into account when weighing up
Practice Director – Migration, studying in-demand degrees can whether to sponsor a temporary or
Holding Redlich remain in Australia after graduating permanent worker, or go through the
- could that help? Designated Area Migration Scheme
1 What impact could the boosting of International students can apply for (DAMA)?
Australia’s migrant intake have on a Temporary Graduate visa on study There are a variety of sponsorship
skills shortages? completion, allowing them to gain arrangements available to these
The increase of places for permanent real work experience in Australia. businesses and one size doesn’t
migration is great news, particularly Post-study work rights will be fit all. When advising clients, we
for regional Australia which received increased from: consider:
an increase to 34,000 places.
States and Territories also received • Two to four years for select • The nature of the business and
an increase to 31,000 places which Bachelor’s degrees whether there’s an industry specific
will also benefit regional areas. • Three to five years for select agreement
However, it’s unlikely to have any Master’s degrees • The position and skill level that
immediate impact unless visa • Four to six years for select PhD’s needs to be filled – is it on an
processing times improve. occupation list?
We don’t yet know what a select • The annual salary for the role
2 How quickly could new migrants degree is and understand a working • The qualifications and work
be processed? group will advise the Ministers experience of the candidate
There’s still a considerable backlog for Home Affairs and Education. • Whether the position is required
of visa applications so it’s hard to Because these visas are already short or long term
predict how long it will take. available to students, it’s unclear
Some of our clients in regional whether providing a longer duration It’s not uncommon for employers
areas have been waiting more than visa will help fill job vacancies. to use several different agreements.
12 months for offshore Subclass For example, an accounting business
494 applications to be processed. 4 What concessions have been may sponsor an Accountant under
Subclass 482 applications aren’t provided to working holiday the standard Subclass 482 pathway
taking as long but you could still wait makers and student visa holder and an Accounts Clerk under the
up to 6 months. work conditions? FNQ DAMA.
On the bright side, it is pleasing to Students are typically limited to
see that the government will invest working 40 hours per fortnight.
$36.1 million to hire an additional Earlier this year this was relaxed, Holding Redlich will soon be
500 staff over the next nine months. giving students full work rights, presenting a joint webinar with
This is a giant step to improve which has been extended to Elite Executive Recruitment to help
current processing times, however 30 June 2023. employers understand the different
with unemployment rates being so Similarly, working holiday makers sponsorship arrangements.
low, I’m curious to know where these can typically only work for one Check their website and social
500 people will come from. employer for a period of six months. media pages for updates.
The relaxation of this restriction
is due to end on 31 December
2022, however there has been no MORE: holdingredlich.com
announcement about an extension.

23 • tropicnow.com.au