核心提示：457籤證是一個臨時籤證，是為了彌補中期技能短缺而設立的，以便能快速靈活地滿足商業需要。此項籤證目前在澳洲被一些違法者利用，澳洲移民局日前公布改革措施，防止該項籤證成為移民後門。
本文由網易移民頻道獨家翻譯，轉載請註明。
網易教育訊 457籤證的目的是為了使僱傭者能通過招募合格的海外勞工來填補職位空缺，而且必須是在找不到合適的當地僱工的前提下。
457籤證是一個臨時籤證，是為了彌補中期技能短缺而設立的，以便能快速靈活地滿足商業需要。這項籤證計劃包含一些附內置的保護措施，以避免當地工人工資被減或海外勞工被剝削。
工人保護法案2008曾經引入了一個擔保框架，這個框架的設計是為了保障持有擔保籤證的工人的工作條件能夠達到澳洲當地人的水平。這些改革在很大程度上實現了原本設定的目標。
雖然457籤證計劃實現了它所有的海外意圖，但是還有一些其他因素在影響著該項目的發展。457籤證計劃的擴展速度超過了國家僱傭需求的增長，而且雖然大多數僱傭者能正確利用457類別籤證，但是有一些僱傭者利用該項目引進的人才並沒有完全達到標準。
而且，澳洲經濟相對於許多其他國家來說比較繁榮，這也使那些在本國面對高失業率或低工資的人把澳洲視為他們的理想目的地。
2011-12年來自境內的持有工作度假籤證或學生籤證的申請該項目的人有一個顯著的增長。這些457籤證的申請者大多有職業資格證，在某些領域這些人甚至佔到了所有被批准者一半還多。這個趨勢表明，這個項目正在被越來越多的臨時籤證持有者利用來留在澳洲，而不是用來彌補澳洲勞動力的不足。
2013年2月23日，澳洲移民部長宣布了關於457籤證的一系列改革措施。這些措施是為了提高移民局的識別和阻止部分僱傭者的能力，這些僱傭者可能會聘用一些不符合457籤證標準的人。
這些措施包括：
·引進真實性標準，如果招聘崗位不符合企業經營活動的業務範圍的話，移民部可能會拒絕提名。
·將市場薪酬的起徵點從18萬元提高至25萬元，以確保企業不會利用僱傭較便宜的海外勞工來壓低本地收入較高工人的待遇。
·取消了對某些崗位的英語語言能力要求豁免。許多長期持有457籤證的外籍工作者都會接著去申請永久居留權，而這一變化將確保457籤證項目的要求與永居權方面的僱主擔保項目一致，後者要求申請人具備職業英語能力。這種變化將有利於籤證持有人，因為它確保了持續受僱主僱傭的457籤證持有者，在申請永久居留權時，不會因為他們的語言能力而處在不利位置。但是，年薪超過9.2萬元的被擔保申請人仍將繼續豁免於英語語言要求。
·強化了移民部的監管權力，以確保受擔保的籤證持有人的工作條件符合澳洲標準，且457籤證工人將不會被剝削或被利用來壓低本地工人的待遇。
·修訂了現有的培訓基準規定，以澄清僱主培訓澳洲本地人的義務即便是在他們的擔保獲批以後，也是持續的和具有約束力的，包括新成立的企業。
·修訂了現有規定，以澄清457籤證工人可能不得受到一個不相關實體的僱傭，除非他們是在一份勞資協議下獲得的擔保。
·修訂了現有規定，使移民部可以在僱主撤回擔保的情況下，退還籤證申請費用。
在現有的法律下移民局監測和回應移民系統公正性的能力是有限的，新的措施將增強公正性同時不對籤證申請處理時間產生不利影響，並且保證對企業的影響最小化。
這些措施將保證457籤證計劃更好的滿足它的首要目的——作為對澳洲勞動力市場的補充而非替代。
這些措施還將彌補現行法律和政策設置的漏洞以保證籤證計劃只能被合適的技術人才利用，真正用來彌補技術上的不足。這將使澳洲本地工人擁有公平平等的就業機會。
此外，這些措施還將增強擔保關係中的義務，使擔保籤證持有者的工作條件達到澳洲標準，而不是被剝削。加強擔保關係中的義務同時還可以有效避免該項目被另作他用。
這些變化何時實施？
全套的措施將會在2013年7月1日生效。在實施這些變化之前，針對擔保者、籤證持有人及其代表們的更詳細的信息將會披露，以使他們更理解新的要求。
這些變化將如何影響澳洲商業？
這些變化將不會對絕大多數正確利用這個籤證計劃的僱傭者有不利影響。但是會加強政府在識別和阻止用人單位違法方面的能力。
這些變化將如何影響457籤證持有者？
對於現有的457籤證持有者沒有什麼不利影響。457籤證是一個臨時籤證，是為了彌補中期技能短缺而設立的，以便能快速靈活地滿足商業需要。2009年9月生效的工人保護改革法案引入了一些擔保關係條約，保證擔保籤證持有者的工作條件能夠達到澳洲本地人的標準，並且保證他們不會被剝削。
這些變化將如何影響457籤證的申請者？
457籤證申請者的絕大部分都是真實的，這些變化並不會對他們產生影響。在一些情況下，申請者的申請是在2013年7月1日之後才開始處理的，這些人可能需要提交更多的證據，以證明他們申請457籤證的立場。
第二頁：澳洲移民局網站官方新聞(英文版)
The purpose of the 457 visa program is to enable employers to fill skill shortages by recruiting qualified overseas workers where they cannot find appropriately skilled Australians.
The 457 visa is a temporary visa, intended for filling short to medium term skill shortages, in a quick, flexible way to meet business needs. The program contains a number of in-built protections to prevent local workers' conditions from being undercut and overseas workers from being exploited.
The program was significantly reformed in 2009: why are further changes necessary?
The Worker Protection Act 2008 introduced a sponsorship framework which was designed to ensure the working conditions of sponsored visa holders meet Australian standards. These reforms have been largely effective in achieving their objective.
While the subclass 457 visa program is meeting its overall intent, there are external factors influencing program trends. The 457 program has expanded well above the national employment growth rate, and while most employers are using the subclass 457 appropriately, the nature of the program’s use by some employers indicates that the criteria is not being fully met.
Additionally, the Australian economy is very buoyant compared to many other countries, which makes us an attractive destination for people who may be facing high unemployment and low wages at home.
Within the program, significant growth was recorded in 2011-12 from applicants applying from onshore who held a working holiday maker visa or student visa. These subclass 457 visa applicants held mostly vocational qualifications, and in some industries accounted for over half of total grants. This trend suggests the program is being increasingly used by temporary visa holders seeking to remain in Australia instead of supplementing the Australian labour force.
What are the new measures?
On 23 February 2013, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced a number of reforms to the subclass 457 program. These reforms are aimed at strengthening the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s capacity to identify and prevent employer practices that are not in keeping with the criteria of the subclass 457 program.
The measures being brought forward include:
the introduction of a genuineness criterion under which the department may refuse a nomination if the position does not fit within the scope of the activities of the business
an increase in market salary exemption threshold from $180 000 to $250 000 to ensure that higher paid salary workers are not able to be undercut through the employment of overseas labour at a cheaper rate
the removal of English language exemptions for certain positions. Many long-term 457 workers go on to apply for permanent residence, and this change will ensure that the 457 program requirements are brought into line with the permanent Employer Sponsored program which requires a vocational English ability. This change will benefit visa holders by ensuring that 457 visa holders, who have an ongoing position with their employer and want to apply for permanent residence in the long-run are not disadvantaged because of their language ability. Applicants who are nominated with a salary greater than $92 000 will continue to be exempted from the English language requirement
enhanced regulatory powers for the department to ensure that the working conditions of sponsored visa holders meet Australian standards and that subclass 457 workers cannot be exploited or used to undercut local workers
amendments to existing training benchmark provisions to clarify that an employer’s obligation to train Australians is ongoing and binding for the duration of their approved sponsorship, including for newly established business
amendments to clarify that 457 workers may not be on-hired to an unrelated entity unless they are sponsored under a labour agreement
amendments which will allow the department to refund a visa application fee in circumstances where an employer nomination has been withdrawn.
What is the intent of these measures?
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s capacity to detect and respond to the integrity concerns is limited by current legislation. The new measures will strengthen the integrity framework without adversely affecting visa application processing times and ensure that the potential impact on business is minimised.
The measures will ensure the subclass 457 program better meets its overarching intent of acting as a supplement to, rather than a substitute for the Australian labour market.
The measures will also close loopholes in the current legislative and policy settings to ensure that the program can only be used by appropriately skilled persons and to fill genuine skills shortages. This will enable Australians workers to have fair and equal access to employment opportunities.
Further, the measures will strengthen the sponsorship obligations to ensure that the working conditions of sponsored visa holders meet Australian standards and that they are not exploited. Strengthening the sponsorship obligations will also provide further disincentive to use the program in a manner which was not intended.
When will the changes happen?
The comprehensive suite of measures will be introduced on 1 July 2013. In the lead up to the changes, detailed information will be made available to assist sponsors and visa holders and their representatives understand the new requirements.
How will the changes affect Australian businesses?
The changes will not adversely affect the vast majority of employers who are using the program appropriately. The changes will, however, strengthen the government's capacity to identify and prevent employer practices that are not in keeping with the purpose of the 457 program.
How will the changes affect current 457 visa holders?
There should be no adverse effects on existing visa holders if they are already doing the right thing. The 457 visa is a temporary visa, intended for filling short to medium term skill shortages, in a quick, flexible way to meet business needs. The Worker Protection reforms which took effect in September 2009 introduced a range of sponsorship obligations to ensure the working conditions of sponsored visa holders meet Australian standards and that they are not exploited.
How will the changes affect future 457 visa applicants?
The vast majority of 457 visa applicants who are genuine will not be affected by the changes. In some circumstances applicants whose applications are processed after 1 July 2013 may be required to provide further evidence to demonstrate their claims for a 457 visa.