New measures to strengthen the integrity of Australia’s Temporary Skilled Migration Programme have been announced by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.

Under new legislation, employers wishing to sponsor foreigners to live and work in Australia will be required to pay all recruitment costs, migration agent fees, employment registration fees, as well as travel and medical costs.

The new rules governing foreign recruitment have been introduced as a response to several outcries with regard to the 457 visa programme, which has been seen as a means of exploitation by rogue employers. In recent years, a minority of Australian employers have hired skilled migrants to perform semi-skilled or unskilled jobs, whilst paying them less than minimum wage.

The new laws will ensure that all foreign sponsored temporary workers are paid at least the national minimum salary, and employers will be required to record all payments, and can be called upon to produce relevant documentation at any time. Failure to comply with these laws could result in 6 months imprisonment as well as civil penalties fines of up to AU$6,600. Courts will also have the power to order the payment of any money owed to workers by their employers.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship announced: “The government hopes that these amendments will help skilled migrants feel more secure and encourage workers to continue to come to Australia, as many industries are experiencing a labour shortage.”