YOUR INDUSTRY
3 TEMPORARY visa holders in Australia working in critical sectors can be granted a visa for up to 12 months.
Factsheet for employers:
COVID-19 Pandemic event visa About the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa • The COVID-19 Pandemic event (subclass 408) visa was established in April 2020 to address critical workforce shortages during COVID-19 • Temporary visa holders in Australia working in critical sectors can be granted a visa for up to 12 months
Visa conditions
Employer obligations
• Workers holding the Pandemic event visa can only work for the employer listed in their visa application
• Employers must take reasonable steps, at reasonable times, to ensure they are employing, referring or contracting non-citizens with work rights
• S easonal Worker Programme (SWP) and Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) participants with a Pandemic event visa can only work for SWP or PLS Approved Employers
Employers must check that visa holders do not have work restrictions.
• These workers need to provide evidence of ongoing employment or offer of employment and may be eligible for a second 12 month visa.
For information about this visa, see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporaryactivity-408/australian-governmentendorsed-events-covid-19
• Workers who leave their employer without permission or informing the Department of Home Affairs may be in breach of their conditions, which can affect their ability to be granted another visa. For information about visa conditions, see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/ visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visadetails-and-conditions/conditions-list
• Employers must check that visa holders do not have work restrictions and may face sanctions if they employ non-citizens without appropriate work rights. For information about employing legal workers, see: https://immi.homeaffairs. gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoringsomeone/hire-someone-in-australia MORE INFORMATION If employers wish to become part of Pacific Labour Mobility programs they should contact vegetables labour scheme facilitator, Melissa Denning on 0477 477 044 or melissa. denning@vegetableswa.com.au
WA Grower AUTUMN 2021
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