Taking fight to dodgy bosses

New initiatives to protect workers on temporary visas were introduced in the wake of media stories in May, which exposed widespread financial abuse of farm and factory workers.

Earlier in September, the government lodged a bill to make it a criminal offence for a sponsor to be paid by a visa applicant in return for securing a migration outcome.

The Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill, is one of several proposed by Assistant Immigration Minister Senator Michaelia Cash, before she was re-assigned to the employment portfolio.

“Those who think they can get away with this kind of behaviour take note – we will target you and we will bring you to justice,” she said.

Giving or receiving benefit in return for visa sponsorship left migrants open to possible exploitation and there would be sanctions against sponsors who actively “sold” sponsorships, she said.

The government would also have the power to cancel a visa where the holder had been found to have “bought” it.

Another change to the system meant volunteer work under the Working Holiday visa program will no longer count as eligible work to qualify for a second visa.

Currently, workers aged 18 to 30 from select countries may holiday and work in Australia for up to a year and may extend their stay by a further year if they undertake at least three months work in certain agricultural, mining or construction roles in regional Australia.

Ms Cash said the changes addressed concerns some employers were ripping off Working Holiday visa holders who had agreed to work “in less than ideal conditions” in a bid to extend their stay.

“The reform will require those seeking to apply for a second Working Holiday visa holder to produce an official payslip from their employer, demonstrating they have completed their regional work component,” Ms Cash said.

These changes will be phased in by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in coming months.

A new smartphone app has been released to help workers access their visa information on the go.

The app, called myVEVO, allows travellers to view their visa start and expiry dates, visa status and conditions.

“The myVEVO app will be incredibly helpful for not only the visa holders themselves, but also for employers who seek to verify work right entitlements quickly and easily,” she said.

Another online service has been launched to help workers learn their working rights.

The Pay And Conditions Tool allows workers to calculate their award wage, payments for shifts and leave entitlements.