In July 2024, the new Workplace Justice Visa (Subclass 408) was introduced as a critical step towards protecting temporary visa holders with work rights from exploitation by employers. This visa offers a pathway for affected workers to secure temporary protection while navigating issues with their employers. What constitutes worker exploitation? The workplace Justice Visa covers […]
READ MORE5 things HR leaders can do to avoid skills shortages
With Australian unemployment figures still sitting at around the 4% mark, skills shortages are impacting productivity and growth for many industries. Unfilled roles and positions can cost organisations thousands in lost output, which is why HR leaders must be proactive in addressing talent gaps. Innovative thinking and specialist support can help build robust talent pipelines […]
READ MOREWhy diversity matters at board level
The concept of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is now recognised as essential to foster innovation, resilience and employee engagement across all levels of an organisation. As explained in McKinsey’s DEI Lighthouses report, deep commitment from executive management can help set equality and diversity-related initiatives up for success by signalling the importance of DEI and […]
READ MOREEmployee spotlight: Lyly Mach, Senior Immigration Business Partner
Immigration lawyer Lyly Mach’s journey with The Migration Agency began in 2022, marking a pivotal shift from her previous position at a traditional immigration law firm. At The Migration Agency, we are dedicated to fostering a balanced work environment where our people can thrive, which plays a key role in attracting, engaging, and retaining top […]
READ MOREHow to conduct an internal compliance risk assessment under the new Strengthening Employer Compliance Act
On 1st July 2024, the Federal Government implemented a series of changes to bolster the protection of migration workers. As part of the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Act 2024 (read our summary here), the changes include new criminal offences for employers exploiting workers, increased penalties for breaches of work-related provisions of The Migration Act, […]
READ MOREEmployer guide for settling visa holders into regional communities
Regional businesses in Australia are currently affected by skills shortages across almost every industry. One potential solution for regional employers is to source talent from overseas to fill the gap in your organisation’s workforce. For any organisation looking to hire international talent into a regional area, the success of your recruitment program will be determined […]
READ MOREUnderpayment – The Cost Is High
In Australia, workplace laws relating to wage and salary payment apply to all employees, regardless of their country of origin or visa status. The penalties for failing to uphold the correct employment standards can be harsh, fines and penalties can be imposed by the regulators and result in a company’s name being added to a […]
READ MORE2024 Immigration Changes HR Departments Need To Be Aware Of
With the advent of the new financial year, a series of changes to immigration and visa laws are taking place, making it easier to bring highly skilled individuals into the country. A range of measures have also been implemented to deter exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers. Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Act 2024 1st July: […]
READ MORENursing Shortage Impacting Healthcare Service
Australia is already grappling with a significant shortage of nurses in healthcare and aged care around the country and the problem is forecast to increase over the coming years. Studies into nursing supply and demand have found shortages are affecting all sectors of the healthcare industry, including acute care, primary care, aged care and mental […]
READ MOREHow to Handle A Workplace Investigation with Visa Holders
Businesses who sponsor international talent to work in Australia can be investigated by regulatory organisations who make sure the terms of employment meet the correct criteria and visa holders are being treated fairly in accordance with Australian immigration regulations. The main regulatory bodies are the Fair Work Ombudsman (Fair Work Inspectors) and the Department of […]
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