Government Changes for Subclass 186 and 187 Visas.
From the 18th of March 2018 changes to the Skilled working visa subclasses 186 and 187 came into effect.
These changes include:
- Changes to the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List of occupations,
- Work experience :
- A minimum of 3 years work experience by all applicants,
- Age :
- The applicants age requirement has been changed to maximum age requirement of 45 years and under,
- Residency :
- The required eligibility period to apply for permanent residency has now changed from 2 years to 3 years,
- Market Salary Rate :
- All employers must pay the employee the Australian market salary rate and meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold,
- Skills assessment :
- All applicants for a RSMS visa under the DE stream will be required to have their skills assessed.
- Skilling Australians Fund :
- Employers nominating a worker for an ENS or RSMS visa will be required to pay a contribution to the Skilling Australians Fund
- Tax File Number collection :
- The Department of Home Affairs will commence the collection of Tax File Numbers for these visa holders, and data will be matched with the Australian Tax Office’s records to ensure that visa holders are not paid less than their nominated salary.
- This is subject to change in legislation.
What Do These Changes Mean To Existing 186 and 187 Visa Holders?
For existing 186 and 187 visa holders these changes will not apply nor for applications made prior to the 18th of March 2018. Nominations for a 186 or 187 visa lodged before 18 March 2018 will be processed under the old requirements for nominations.
Any new nominations or applications made after the 18th of March 2018 will need to meet the new obligations and eligibility requirements.
Why The Changes?
The Australian Government’s reform aims to ensure that Australian workers are given priority over overseas workers when it comes to filling shortages in skilled Australian based occupations.
The Government announced that these changes are designed to ensure a fair and reasonable structure for bringing skilled overseas workers to Australia whilst also ensuring priority for Australian workers.
What Changes To Expect in 2018
Further to the above more changes are expected in April 2018. Expected changes are as follows:
- Skilling Australians Fund: Employers nominating a worker for an ENS or RSMS visa will be required to pay a contribution to the Skilling Australians Fund.
- The Australian Government has established an ongoing Skilling Australians Fund.
- This fund will be managed through a new National Partnership Agreement with the state and territory governments.
- The revenue for the Fund will be financed by Employers nominating a worker for an ENS visa and must pay a contribution to the Skilling Australians Fund.
- This fund will be used for projects relating to growth of industries such as tourism, hospitality, agriculture and engineering just to name a few.
- Skills assessment: all applicants for a RSMS visa under the DE stream will be required to have their skills assessed.
For more information about these reforms please contact our expert team today at ONE derland Consulting on +61 89 477 5831.
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