RSS Feed
Twitter
Foreign workers to fill in skills shortages
February 23, 2011 – Mining companies are being forced with Mackay’s skills shortage to look abroad to bring in overseas workers into the region. Leighton Contractors are believed to bring plans as many as 1100 foreign workers into regions like Mackay does as the skills shortage was affecting many businesses in the region. The company also said temporary foreign workers would be employed if sufficient numbers of Australian workers were not available as they are committed to employ and train Australians first.
Narelle Pearse, the managing director of Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) said companies in mining industry were desperate for tradespeople and were being left with no choice but to seek employees overseas. So the company who will sponsor workers from abroad is responsible in settling working Australia visa to enter the country. The company decided not to take its focus off employing local people as work needs to be done such as rebuilding flood and cyclone devastated cities. Though the company may seek for workers abroad, still the preference would always be on local people as certain industries and certain skill sets get worse.
According to Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) Mackay district vice president Steve Pierce, major companies should take responsibility in training for prospective tradespeople. It was the big problem for big mining houses such as Leighton Contractors as they are taking skilled employees off. Mr Pierce said sourcing workers from overseas should be the last resort. Also, companies should identify whose skills are not available in Australia and put a program in place for a well-delivered training. So the Australian immigration should at least lower down the requirements or process in lodging for working Australia visa.
A work visa for Australia allows companies to employ overseas workers for a period of time between one day and four years. For easier visa application, overseas workers may lodge an Australian visa online.
Source:
dailymercury.com.au
