George Lombard

The Minister has announced A$41,850 as the minimum salary for non-IT 457
and ENS applications, and A$57,300 as the minimum salary for IT
applications. For ENS executive entry there's a new specification of
A$165,000.

Also of interest is a proposal to introduce English requirements for 457
applications, and a minimum salary level for regional 457 applications,
see below.

‘The minimum salary that employers must pay temporary skilled workers
in Australia has been increased,’ Minister for Immigration and
Multicultural Affairs, Amanda Vanstone, announced today.

‘The new minimum salary level for most professions will be $41, 850,
an increase of more than 7 per cent from last year’s level,’ Senator
Vanstone said.

‘The minimum salary requirements do not override requirements that
workers are paid in accordance with Australian standards and conditions
of employment (including awards, workplace agreements, superannuation
and taxation.) If awards or workplace agreements demand a higher salary,
then that higher salary must be paid over the employer risks losing the
right to sponsor overseas temporary workers.

‘These measures ensure foreign skilled workers are paid salaries
reflecting their skills. The new minimum applies from 3 May 2006.’

The Minister said she believed the vast majority of employers were in
fact paying well above the minimum salaries.

‘In fact, the average salary of business long stay visa holders –
commonly referred to as 457 visas – is currently $65,000,’ the
Minister said.

‘This reflects the fact that overseas workers are sought to fill
genuine skill shortages in Australia and that, as a consequence of that
shortage, wages in those trades and professions are being driven up.’

Minimum salary levels have been reviewed annually by the Department of
Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and the Department of Employment
and Workplace Relations since being introduced in 2001 to deter
employers from recruiting unskilled and low-paid overseas workers to the
detriment of Australian workers.

In the information technology sector, the minimum salary level for
workers would be $57,300 – an increase of 12.9 per cent,’ the
Minister said.

‘This level was set following consultation with the ICT industry.

‘For highly skilled senior manager positions applying for permanent
migration, which does not require an assessment of skills, the minimum
salary will be increased to $165,000 a year.’

The Minister also announced the Government would make changes to
regional concessions allowed under the 457 visa scheme, including
setting an absolute limit for salaries in regional areas of at least 90
per cent of the standard minimum level.

‘This change, from 1 July, 2006, will ensure salary levels approved by
regional certifying bodies are at least the minimum acceptable in the
Australian context for a skilled worker.

‘Further improvements regarding language will ensure temporary skilled
workers under 457 visas have at least functional levels of English.

‘Employers will need to attest either that their employees have
sufficient command of English or that they have put in place
arrangements to provide English language training for both the employees
and their families. This will help to protect both foreign and
Australian workers, particularly in situations where a lack of English
language skills can be an occupational health and safety risk,’ the
Minister said.

‘This requirement will not alter the need to still meet English
proficiency requirements for licensing by the relevant Australian
licensing authorities.

‘ My Department will consult with Industry on the detailed
implementation of these changes which will add further strength to a
visa regime that is delivering the skilled workers that Australia needs
to keep growing.

‘The Government is committed to working with employers and unions to
ensure that any allegations of exploitation of workers are fully
investigated and action taken if there is any evidence that workers are
not receiving their correct entitlements.’

http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/medi...06/v06048a.htm

Cheers,

George Lombard

www.austimmigration.com.au

Jothefw

> The Minister has announced A$41,850 as the minimum salary for non-IT
> 457 and ENS applications, and A$57,300 as the minimum salary for IT
> applications. For ENS executive entry there's a new specification of
> A$165,000.
> Also of interest is a proposal to introduce English requirements for
> 457 applications, and a minimum salary level for regional 457
> applications, see below.
> ‘The minimum salary that employers must pay temporary skilled
> workers in Australia has been increased,’ Minister for Immigration
> and Multicultural Affairs, Amanda Vanstone, announced today.
> ‘The new minimum salary level for most professions will be $41, 850,
> an increase of more than 7 per cent from last year’s level,’
> Senator Vanstone said.
> ‘The minimum salary requirements do not override requirements that
> workers are paid in accordance with Australian standards and
> conditions of employment (including awards, workplace agreements,
> superannuation and taxation.) If awards or workplace agreements demand
> a higher salary, then that higher salary must be paid over the
> employer risks losing the right to sponsor overseas temporary workers.
> ‘These measures ensure foreign skilled workers are paid salaries
> reflecting their skills. The new minimum applies from 3 May 2006.’
> The Minister said she believed the vast majority of employers were in
> fact paying well above the minimum salaries.
> ‘In fact, the average salary of business long stay visa holders –
> commonly referred to as 457 visas – is currently $65,000,’ the
> Minister said.
> ‘This reflects the fact that overseas workers are sought to fill
> genuine skill shortages in Australia and that, as a consequence of
> that shortage, wages in those trades and professions are being
> driven up.’
> Minimum salary levels have been reviewed annually by the Department of
> Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and the Department of Employment
> and Workplace Relations since being introduced in 2001 to deter
> employers from recruiting unskilled and low-paid overseas workers to
> the detriment of Australian workers.
> In the information technology sector, the minimum salary level for
> workers would be $57,300 – an increase of 12.9 per cent,’ the
> Minister said.
> ‘This level was set following consultation with the ICT industry.
> ‘For highly skilled senior manager positions applying for permanent
> migration, which does not require an assessment of skills, the minimum
> salary will be increased to $165,000 a year.’
> The Minister also announced the Government would make changes to
> regional concessions allowed under the 457 visa scheme, including
> setting an absolute limit for salaries in regional areas of at least
> 90 per cent of the standard minimum level.
> ‘This change, from 1 July, 2006, will ensure salary levels approved
> by regional certifying bodies are at least the minimum acceptable in
> the Australian context for a skilled worker.
> ‘Further improvements regarding language will ensure temporary
> skilled workers under 457 visas have at least functional levels of
> English.
> ‘Employers will need to attest either that their employees have
> sufficient command of English or that they have put in place
> arrangements to provide English language training for both the
> employees and their families. This will help to protect both foreign
> and Australian workers, particularly in situations where a lack of
> English language skills can be an occupational health and safety
> risk,’ the Minister said.
> ‘This requirement will not alter the need to still meet English
> proficiency requirements for licensing by the relevant Australian
> licensing authorities.
> ‘ My Department will consult with Industry on the detailed
> implementation of these changes which will add further strength to a
> visa regime that is delivering the skilled workers that Australia
> needs to keep growing.
> ‘The Government is committed to working with employers and unions to
> ensure that any allegations of exploitation of workers are fully
> investigated and action taken if there is any evidence that workers
> are not receiving their correct entitlements.’
> http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/medi...06/v06048a.htm
> Cheers,
> George Lombard
> www.austimmigration.com.au

Thanks for keeping us updated George - as ever!

Got interview this time next week over there and it's to be discussed
whether we do 457 or ENS or RSMS - I'm hoping for RSMS.

--

neomansydney

jothefw wrote:
> > The Minister has announced A$41,850 as the minimum salary for non-IT
> > 457 and ENS applications, and A$57,300 as the minimum salary for IT
> > applications. For ENS executive entry there's a new specification of
> > A$165,000.
> >
> > Also of interest is a proposal to introduce English requirements for
> > 457 applications, and a minimum salary level for regional 457
> > applications, see below.
> >
> > 'The minimum salary that employers must pay temporary skilled
> > workers in Australia has been increased,' Minister for Immigration
> > and Multicultural Affairs, Amanda Vanstone, announced today.
> >
> > 'The new minimum salary level for most professions will be $41, 850,
> > an increase of more than 7 per cent from last year's level,'
> > Senator Vanstone said.
> >
> > 'The minimum salary requirements do not override requirements that
> > workers are paid in accordance with Australian standards and
> > conditions of employment (including awards, workplace agreements,
> > superannuation and taxation.) If awards or workplace agreements demand
> > a higher salary, then that higher salary must be paid over the
> > employer risks losing the right to sponsor overseas temporary workers.
> >
> > 'These measures ensure foreign skilled workers are paid salaries
> > reflecting their skills. The new minimum applies from 3 May 2006.'
> >
> > The Minister said she believed the vast majority of employers were in
> > fact paying well above the minimum salaries.
> >
> > 'In fact, the average salary of business long stay visa holders -
> > commonly referred to as 457 visas - is currently $65,000,' the
> > Minister said.
> >
> > 'This reflects the fact that overseas workers are sought to fill
> > genuine skill shortages in Australia and that, as a consequence of
> > that shortage, wages in those trades and professions are being
> > driven up.'
> >
> > Minimum salary levels have been reviewed annually by the Department of
> > Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and the Department of Employment
> > and Workplace Relations since being introduced in 2001 to deter
> > employers from recruiting unskilled and low-paid overseas workers to
> > the detriment of Australian workers.
> >
> > In the information technology sector, the minimum salary level for
> > workers would be $57,300 - an increase of 12.9 per cent,' the
> > Minister said.
> >
> > 'This level was set following consultation with the ICT industry.
> >
> > 'For highly skilled senior manager positions applying for permanent
> > migration, which does not require an assessment of skills, the minimum
> > salary will be increased to $165,000 a year.'
> >
> > The Minister also announced the Government would make changes to
> > regional concessions allowed under the 457 visa scheme, including
> > setting an absolute limit for salaries in regional areas of at least
> > 90 per cent of the standard minimum level.
> >
> > 'This change, from 1 July, 2006, will ensure salary levels approved
> > by regional certifying bodies are at least the minimum acceptable in
> > the Australian context for a skilled worker.
> >
> > 'Further improvements regarding language will ensure temporary
> > skilled workers under 457 visas have at least functional levels of
> > English.
> >
> > 'Employers will need to attest either that their employees have
> > sufficient command of English or that they have put in place
> > arrangements to provide English language training for both the
> > employees and their families. This will help to protect both foreign
> > and Australian workers, particularly in situations where a lack of
> > English language skills can be an occupational health and safety
> > risk,' the Minister said.
> >
> > 'This requirement will not alter the need to still meet English
> > proficiency requirements for licensing by the relevant Australian
> > licensing authorities.
> >
> > ' My Department will consult with Industry on the detailed
> > implementation of these changes which will add further strength to a
> > visa regime that is delivering the skilled workers that Australia
> > needs to keep growing.
> >
> > 'The Government is committed to working with employers and unions to
> > ensure that any allegations of exploitation of workers are fully
> > investigated and action taken if there is any evidence that workers
> > are not receiving their correct entitlements.'
> >
> > http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/medi...06/v06048a.htm
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > George Lombard
> >
> > www.austimmigration.com.au
> Thanks for keeping us updated George - as ever!
> Got interview this time next week over there and it's to be discussed
> whether we do 457 or ENS or RSMS - I'm hoping for RSMS.
> --
>


There's another bit of speculation on the grapevive: Subclass 121 may
be on the way out for most categories, leaving 457-to-856 as the main
ENS pathway.