Visa change will let unemployed migrants stay in Australia for longer

Skilled migrants will be able to stay in Australia for longer if they find themselves out of work under new visa changes.

Migrants working in Australia on a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa will now have six months to be without an employer sponsor.

They currently only have 60 days to either find another employer to nominate them, apply for a new visa or leave the country. 

It gives TSS visa holders more time and flexibility to find a new employer. 

Migrants with a TSS visa will also retain their work rights under the changes. 

Immigration minister Andrew Gilles announced the changes to the TSS visa earlier this month as a part of a broader aim to address migrant worker exploitation.

‘People working on Temporary Skilled Shortage visas will have six months instead of 60 days to be without an employer,’ he said.

‘While this is not a silver bullet, it is a necessary step to mitigate the worst aspect of employer-bound visa rules.’  

Mr Giles described the current conditions for temporary visa holders as exploitative. 

‘A temporary skilled work visa with no permanent residency pathway is not one of mutual respect – it is Australian mercantilism, based on extracting whatever we can from people before discarding them when we are done,’ he said. 

‘The union movement, like the Labor Party, like our country, has a deep and at times fraught history with migration.’

‘There have been points in our history where Governments, including Labor Governments, and union officials alike sought gains for workers through exclusion.’

‘Today, we organise collectively, regardless of skin colour or visa status. Today, every union speaks multiple languages. Today, we recognise this history by fighting against division and hatred.’

‘Because in a good society, built on immigration, we are all in this together and because united, we are stronger.’

Immigration minister Andrew Giles (pictured) announced the changes as part of a broader move by the Albanese government to address migrant worker exploitation

The change to the TSS visa is one of a number of measures being enacted by the Albanese government to support migrant workers. 

The government has also pledged $1.5million to a social enterprise that will help new arrivals find employment in Australia. 

About 400 refugees or migrants can engage with the organisation because of the funding package.   

The government says the move will provide refugees and migrants with stable jobs and fill workforce shortages in the country.  

It’s not yet known when the changes to the TSS visa will be implemented.