Migration Solutions Managing Director Mark Glazbrook is adamant the “one size fits all” Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold does not address genuine skill shortages in regional Australia.
Mark has responded to the Independent review into the Integrity of the 457 programme with a proposal to the Joint Standing Committee for Migration.
In his proposal, the former state president and national board member of the Migration Institute of Australia said the current TSMIT locks out many employers and occupations in regional low/population growth areas, where there is genuine demand and where market salary rates of pay are lower than the TSMIT.
“A skilled nursery person or production horticulturalist in regional Australia is an eligible occupation for the 457 program, however the relevant award and market salary rates of pay are less than the TSMIT. This means that employers in this industry cannot use the 457 program to address skills shortages,” Mr Glazbrook writes.
Migrants fruit-picking in Young NSW.
With an aim to fill skill shortages that cannot be met from the local labour market, Mark writes “the TSMIT does not support the fundamental principle, intention or objectives of this program.”
In his proposal, Mark recommends the introduction of a separate, lower TSMIT for nomination lodged for positions in regional and low population growth areas of Australia.
The government released its response to the Independent Review into the Integrity of the 457 visa programme on March 18 and in the report it supported the current (TSMIT) at $53,900p.a for the next two years.
Migration Solutions will keep readers updated on the outcome of this proposal.
