Workforce and skills: small business critical supply chain (Food and Grocery)

NATIONAL

MGA is pleased the Government is listening to the very serious worker shortage needs small business operators are experiencing at present. This matter will continue to be an issue for a long while to come given the current spread of COVID-19 Omicron. MGA appreciates the speed with which this added change has been activated to address our worker shortages.

JobActive Providers

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) has prepared factsheets to assist businesses to access the supports and services available for recruiting staff, including details about where to find more information. These factsheets have been prepared in response to the questions and concerns around finding the relevant information in an easily digestible format.

Student and Working Holiday Maker visa changes

The Government has announced a series of visa measures to provide an incentive for fully vaccinated Student and Working Holiday Maker visa holders to return to Australia as soon as possible. This aims to address current workforce shortages caused by COVID 19.

International Student – Working Hours Flexibility:

Due to current workforce shortages, the Government is temporarily extending this arrangement by removing the limit on Student visa holders’ working hours across all sectors of the economy. In addition, effective immediately and until the end of 2022, there will be no limit on the length of time Working Holiday Makers can work for the same employer.

This measure takes effect immediately for all ongoing students as well as new student arrivals who start a job prior to their course commencement and will be reviewed in April 2022.

Working Holiday Makers – Employer Flexibility

Effective immediately and until the end of 2022, there will be no limit on the length of time Working Holiday Makers can work for the same employer.

The above measures are temporary and designed to provide immediate assistance to Australian businesses that are currently facing critical workforce shortages, to enable them to continue delivering goods and services to the community.

There are currently around 150,000 Student and 23,500 Working Holiday Maker visa holders offshore. All international arrivals must meet Australia’s entry requirements including in relation to vaccination.

Further details will be available on the Department of Home Affairs website https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.