Canberra, 22 May, 2013: Overseas workers holding 457 visas now have a new online resource to inform them of their rights and obligations in the workplace, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Brendan O’Connor MP, announced today.
Mr O’Connor, who made the announcement today at the Community Migrant Resource Centre in Parramatta with Julie Owens MP, said the multilingual audio visual tool will be invaluable for sponsors to use in induction programs for their overseas workers.
‘The 457 visa, when used properly, is a very good tool to provide skilled labour on a temporary basis for those businesses and sectors of our economy that clearly have shortages,’ Mr O’Connor said.
‘The Gillard Government, however, has evidence that some employers are not using 457 visas the way they were intended.
‘No one wants to see workers exploited and our workplace laws provide protection for all workers in Australia, including those from overseas.
‘Employers of 457 visa holders are required to adhere to a number of sponsorship obligations, including providing overseas workers with the same pay and conditions of employment as Australians who perform equivalent work in the business.
‘This online video will help to mitigate the exploitation of overseas workers in Australia by ensuring access to clear information on their rights and obligations in their primary language.
The online tool is based on an information booklet developed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The video has been produced in English with subtitles in six additional languages – Mandarin, Korean, Indonesian, Malay, Tagalog and Hindi.
The Worker Rights and Obligations video is now available on DIAC’s YouTube channel, ImmITV.
