News

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced an increase in the minimum salary payable to employees nominated under the subclass 457 visa scheme.

The government has announced the introduction of Enterprise Migration Agreements (EMAs)—a new temporary migration initiative to help address the skill needs of the resource sector. 

In recognition of the challenges that employers in regional Australia face to maintain and grow their businesses, in the 2011-12 Budget the Government has directed the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to begin investigating the viability of a number of initiatives specifically targeted toward assisting regional Australia to manage these challenges.

The government is proposing to introduce an initiative in 2011-2012 that will bring together employers, local and state government and unions to cooperate on addressing local labour needs.

The Department has indicated that there will be numerous changes to policy under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS).

The Federal Government is contemplating a new migration scheme for semi-skilled workers to be employed on million-dollar mining and construction projects, according to the Sydney Morning Herald and Queensland’s Couriermail newspapers.