Employment Law Practical Handbook | 2009

Important New Obligations for Sponsors of Subclass 457 Visa Holders!

From 14 September 2009, all 457 visa sponsors (i.e. employers) are required to meet new sponsorship obligations.

Now, if you want to sponsor a worker under the Subclass 457 visa program, you must provide evidence to the Department of Immigration that you will pay the worker at market salary rates (i.e. equivalent salary rates to non-457 workers).

Example
Josie is a 457 visa holder and works for you as a tool maker. Other tool makers employed by you who have equivalent qualifications and experience as Josie are paid $48,000 a year. Therefore you must pay Josie $48,000.

By Charles Power posted October 13th 2009

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Cutting Edge Fair Work Act Seminar

Dear Reader,

Do you employ anyone on a 457 visa? Maybe you plan to in the near future…

If so, this affects you.

A heap of changes to the 457 visa scheme were brought in on the 14th of September, and, for the most part, they favour 457 visa holders…

By Claire Berry posted October 13th 2009

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Are the Extra Hours You Ask Your Employees to Work Reasonable?

If you are an employer in the national IR system, you cannot currently ask your full-time employees to work unreasonable additional hours in excess of 38 a week.

Next year, this requirement will become even more onerous. This is because under the National Employment Standards, your employees will be able to lawfully refuse to work unreasonable additional hours.

So, what are reasonable additional hours?

This recent Court ruling gives us an example of what constitutes “reasonable additional hours”.

By Charles Power posted October 6th 2009

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