Employers that attempt to recover costs associated with sponsoring workers could find themselves on the wrong side of the law, placing their ongoing eligibility as a sponsor at risk, says immigration law specialist Katie Malyon.
As employers increase their reliance on foreign workers to fill local skills shortages, understanding the 457-visa scheme is becoming a top HR priority. Watch this webinar to ensure that compliance errors don't jeopardise your organisation's ability to take advantage of this valuable resource.
This presentation, by immigration law expert Katie Malyon, outlines:
The criteria for eligibility as a 457-visa sponsor;
The interface between employment and immigration laws;
How to comply with DIAC's requirements around remuneration, record-keeping, notification and more;
Special considerations when dismissing 457-visa holders;
How to transition 457-visa holders to permanent residency; and
Case studies of employers caught out in non-compliance.
Summary dismissal of a 457-visa holder could be deemed harsh by Fair Work Australia - even if the reason for dismissal is valid - if it forces the worker to leave the country under difficult circumstances, warns specialist corporate immigration lawyer Katie Malyon.
As organisations increase their use of overseas workers, HR professionals need to ensure they are across complex legal issues, says immigration expert Teresa Liu.
September 2009 changes to the 457-visa scheme were "so far reaching, and so hastily introduced", that even the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is still struggling to understand them, says Acacia Immigration Australia CEO Mark Webster.
The 2010 Federal Budget increases funding to train critical skills and boosts the number of skilled migration places, among other key announcements affecting HR professionals.
Changes to the 457-visa scheme are mostly in favour of 457 holders, and will disadvantage employers that have relied on on-the-job training, according to Acacia Immigration Australia director, Mark Webster.
All employers should consider putting in place a workplace s-xual harassment prevention plan, even though such plans are only expressly prescribed in one jurisdiction, according to a risk management expert.
Recent events have shone a spotlight on whistleblowing, placing employers firmly on notice that their response to a protected disclosure could be subject to intense scrutiny. Watch this webcast to understand the role HR plays in this challenging space.