INSIGHTS

The government has just announced changes to the lists of eligible skilled occupations for Australia’s skilled visa programmes. These changes will come into effect on 17 January 2018 and include occupations that will be:

1. Added to the skilled occupation lists,
2. Moved between the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) for certain visa programmes, or;
3. Removed from the eligible skilled occupations lists.

Changes have also been made to some occupational caveats and exclude the use of the occupation in certain circumstances. Let’s examine the changes more closely...

In recent years, Australia has seen a downturn in the oil, gas and mining industries. But, employers don’t want to lose talented employees and they’re often looking for ways to minimise expenses and reduce redundancies.

Recent government plans to enable business to import skilled or specialist workers to undertake short-term employment in Australia, without the need for a 457 temporary visa, are likely to be scrapped.