An Australian employer has been barred from sponsoring an overseas worker for 12 months by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, after failing to provide proper notification of an international worker’s resignation within 10 days of their employment having ceased.
The employer’s appeal against the decision was refused by the Migration Review Tribunal, despite no prior history of sponsorship obligation breaches, highlighting the Department’s ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to the issue.
Sanctions such as a sponsorship ban can have dire consequences for employers of skilled overseas workers, particularly for large or small businesses that are affected by skills shortages within their local labour markets.
As this decision highlights, even a minor infringement of sponsorship obligations will not be met with leniency by the Department.
Any employers unsure of their current sponsorship obligations are encouraged to contact Migration Solutions for advice on the matter.