Released on = October 5, 2006, 5:28 am

Press Release Author = Neoli Marcos

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = The Australian government warns skilled migrants against
recruiters who charge for finding them employment in Australia. This is in light of
recent cases where some Chinese overseas workers were blatantly charged from up to
$27,000.

Press Release Body = Hawthorn, Australia, 5 October 2006 --- The Australian
government warns skilled migrants against recruiters who charge for finding them
employment in Australia. This is in light of recent cases where some Chinese
overseas workers were blatantly charged from up to $27,000.

Australia\'s chronic skills shortage has found an reliable antidote through the
temporary skilled migrant visa, also known as the 457 Visa. From 2005-06, there
were more than 39,000 457 visas granted, up from 27,000 the year before. The
Australian government has also opened more than 100,000 slots to be filled by
skilled migrants. Australia is now the mecca for skilled workers from all over the
world.

Under the provisions of the Skilled Migration Program, if an Australian company
cannot fill a position with a suitable Australian worker to be trained, it has the
option to bring in migrants who can provide the specialist skills it needs. It is
the responsibility, therefore, of Australian employers to sponsor the skilled
migrants they are hiring. Some middleman recruiters though exploit clueless skilled
migrants by charging them thousands of dollars, including air fare.

This scenario would have been prevented if migrants coming into Australia were
adequately informed about their visa conditions. Which is one more reason why the
Australian government is tightening its policies regarding English-speaking
capabilities of its skilled migrants. If migrants know their way around through the
English language, then they would be less prone to being victimized by unscrupulous
recruiters.

On the other hand, Australian companies have to watch out, too, to for illegal
workers that they may have unknowingly employed. Besides depriving Australian
citizens of the right to decent employment, Australian employers of illegal workers
also risk their company’s reputation. As such, they should be careful in checking
out visa conditions of the skilled migrants they are employing.

Web Site = http://www.nationalvisas.com.au

Contact Details = National Visas
Web site: http://www.nationalvisas.com.au
E-mail: webmaster@nationalvisas.com.au
Address: 3 - 118 Church Street
Hawthorn, Victoria
Australia 3122
Phone: +61 (0) 3 9697 4922
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9815 1544