February 12, 2015
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union has again called on the Federal Government to tighten temporary worker visa schemes following the release of the latest unemployment figures.
Today’s ABS labour force data shows national unemployment has reached 6.4 per cent, the worst since 2002.
The union said that that while unemployment grew, Department of Immigration Department figures showed no decline in the number of 457 visa workers.
CFMEU National Secretary Michael O’Connor said tightening the 457 visa scheme had become “urgent”.
“The Prime Minister keeps telling us that he loves this country, but his actions speak louder than words,” Mr O’Connor said.
“It is beyond time he extended labour market testing – the requirement on employers to look for local workers first – to all 457 visa employment categories.
“Our analysis of labour market testing found that it works. In the 30 per cent of occupations where it is in place, there are fewer applications for 457 visa workers.
“If it applied to all occupations, at least 6500 more jobs would have been available to local workers in one year (the 12 months to September 2014).
“Australian jobseekers are being further dudded by Tony Abbott through unfair and one-sided free trade agreements.
“Under the Korea and Japan Free Trade Agreements, there are blanket exemptions from labour market testing of all Korean and Japanese nationals.”
