May at Nomos
As we round out autumn and prepare for what is promising to be a chilly winter, we look back on the penultimate month of the financial year which proved to be just as jam-packed as those before it:
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- Towards the end of the month, the Grattan Institute published a report focussed on the exploitation of migrant workers in the Australian workforce. According to the report’s findings, recent migrants to Australia are twice as likely to be underpaid when compared with long-term resident migrants, and an astonishing 16% of recent migrants are paid less than the national minimum wage. While highlighting a number of injustices like this, the report goes on to recommend three sets of reforms that could be implemented to eliminate migrant exploitation in the Australian workforce. The report is likely to influence government policy moving forwards, particularly in relation to temporary visa holders, and can be found here.
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- As of midnight, 31 May 2023, the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the UK will take effect. This Agreement is primarily focussed on eliminating more than 99% of tariffs on Australian exports to the UK, but the Agreement will also have a migration impact. Specifically, it will be easier for citizens of Australia to live and work in the UK, and vice versa. From 1 July 2023, UK adult passport-holders under the age of 36 who are looking to visit or work in Australia will now have a simpler pathway to do so thanks to the age limit increase on the Working Holiday (subclass 417) Visa (‘WHV’). In addition, from 1 July 2024, UK passport-holders will no longer be required to undertake regional work before applying for a second or third visa in this category.
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- With the end of financial year rapidly approaching, now is the time to review your immigration needs in anticipation of the changes that we know are coming on 1 July 2023. These include an increase to visa and other application charges, an increase to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (from AU$53,900 to AU$70,000 per annum) and the reintroduction of the work limitation (48 hours per fortnight) for all international students apart from those working in the Aged Care sector. If you need assistance with planning your workforce or ensuring your visa application is lodged this financial year, please get in touch as our June appointments are filling up quickly.
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for May. See you next month!
*This is general information only, as at the date of publication, and should not be interpreted as legal advice. For an accurate and current assessment of your circumstances and visa options, please contact us to receive this advice.