Immigration Work Abroad

OZ immigration attends mining expo

australia mining jobs

With the declining popularity of mining jobs in Australia, the Australian immigration officers have decided to attend at the upcoming Xstrata mining expo in Mt Isa from April 30 to May 2.

The immigration staff will provide information on employer-sponsored skilled migration options and explain new laws and penalties for employing or referring people who are not allowed to work.

This comes on the back of significant changes to the employer-sponsored skilled visa program introduced in July 2012.

“Our officers will be on hand to provide an overview of these changes, including information about SkillSelect, and individual appointments will also be available,” a spokesman from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) says.

SkillSelect is an online service that connects Australian employers with potential skilled migrants and streamlines the pathway to permanent residence for people already working in Australia on temporary skilled 457 visas.

australia mining jobs

“Our officers provide a range of information about temporary or permanent employer-sponsored visa options and the concessions available for regional applicants.”

The immigration team will also try to educate businesses about their responsibility for checking to ensure that the workers they use are allowed to work in Australia.

This will include information about new laws recently passed by the Parliament, which introduce civil penalties and infringement notices for employers or labour suppliers of illegal workers.

After a boom in mining jobs in Australia between 2009 to 2011, many mining companies have announced job cuts.

Goldminer Tanami Gold has stopped production at its West Australian Coyote mine resulting in up to 150 job losses, says The Australian. This is caused by the steep drop in the price of gold. The Gold price fell US$300 in a fortnight to US$1325 an ounce in April 2013.

According to figures from Mackie Employer Solutions, staff turnover at mining companies has fallen nearly 5 per cent over the past six months to 14.8 per cent annually – a figure not seen since the global financial crisis.

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