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Subclass 457 Integrity Review Final Report by Ms Barbara Deegan

On 14 November 2008 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans, released the report of the Visa Subclass 457 Integrity Review conducted by industrial relations expert Barbara Deegan.
See: Subclass 457 Integrity Review

Minimum Salary Levels under Subclass 457 program – Changes from 1 August 2008

On 1 August 2008 a new Legislative Instrument (Gazette Notice) was issued, increasing the Minimum Salary Level (MSL) by 3.8 per cent.  This instrument applies not only to new sponsored worker visa applicants, but to all sponsored workers.  This means that the formula for calculating the MSL will apply to every sponsored worker who is paid in accordance with an MSL.
See: Legislative Instrument of Minimum Salary Levels and occupations – Subclass 457 – Business (Long Stay) visa (520KB PDF file)

Changes to salary levels for the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

The salary level for occupations that are eligible for the ENS increased from 1 August 2008.
See: Employer eligibility – Employer Nomination Scheme

Information for workers – Subclass 457 visa program

Information for workers about the Subclass 457 visa is available in the following documents. This information is available in several languages.
See:

Information on employer sponsorship requirements – Subclass 457 visa program

The letters below outline to sponsors of Subclass 457 visa workers changes to the Minimum Salary Level and sponsorship requirements as a result of the gas crisis in Western Australia.

Information on Subclass 457 employer sponsorship requirements and Minimum Salary Levels has also been published.

Subclass 457 - External Reference Group

Following concerns raised in a number of industries (particularly in the construction, mining and tourism sectors) the Australian Government announced a package of measures designed to address skills and labour shortages within the Australian economy.
See: Subclass 457 - External Reference Group

Changes to Subclass 457 visa eligibility

Some road transport occupations have been removed from the Subclass 457 visa program.
See: Exclusion of Certain Transport and Related Workers from the Regional Subclass 457 Program

Identified recruitment agents for Chinese skilled workers – Subclass 457 visa program

An agreement between Australia and The People’s Republic of China establishes an ethical framework for Chinese recruitment agents to supply Australian employers with skilled overseas workers.
See: Identified recruitment agents for Chinese skilled workers

Arrangements for the on-hire industry – Subclass 457 visa program

Labour agreement arrangements for the on-hire industry in Australia came into effect from 1 October 2007.
See: Labour agreement arrangements for the on-hire industry

Arrangements for the meat industry – Subclass 457 visa program

Labour agreements arrangements for the meat industry in Australia came into effect from 10 September 2007.
See: Labour agreement arrangements for the meat industry

English language requirement - Subclass 457 visa program

An English language requirement was introduced to the
Subclass 457 - Business (Long Stay) visa program on 1 July 2007.
See: Changes to the Subclass 457 visa program - English language requirements