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网易教育讯 457签证的目的是为了使雇佣者能通过招募合格的海外劳工来填补职位空缺，而且必须是在找不到合适的当地雇工的前提下。
457签证是一个临时签证，是为了弥补中期技能短缺而设立的，以便能快速灵活地满足商业需要。这项签证计划包含一些附内置的保护措施，以避免当地工人工资被减或海外劳工被剥削。
工人保护法案2008曾经引入了一个担保框架，这个框架的设计是为了保障持有担保签证的工人的工作条件能够达到澳洲当地人的水平。这些改革在很大程度上实现了原本设定的目标。
虽然457签证计划实现了它所有的海外意图，但是还有一些其他因素在影响着该项目的发展。457签证计划的扩展速度超过了国家雇佣需求的增长，而且虽然大多数雇佣者能正确利用457类别签证，但是有一些雇佣者利用该项目引进的人才并没有完全达到标准。
而且，澳洲经济相对于许多其他国家来说比较繁荣，这也使那些在本国面对高失业率或低工资的人把澳洲视为他们的理想目的地。
2011-12年来自境内的持有工作度假签证或学生签证的申请该项目的人有一个显著的增长。这些457签证的申请者大多有职业资格证，在某些领域这些人甚至占到了所有被批准者一半还多。这个趋势表明，这个项目正在被越来越多的临时签证持有者利用来留在澳洲，而不是用来弥补澳洲劳动力的不足。
2013年2月23日，澳洲移民部长宣布了关于457签证的一系列改革措施。这些措施是为了提高移民局的识别和阻止部分雇佣者的能力，这些雇佣者可能会聘用一些不符合457签证标准的人。
这些措施包括：
·引进真实性标准，如果招聘岗位不符合企业经营活动的业务范围的话，移民部可能会拒绝提名。
·将市场薪酬的起征点从18万元提高至25万元，以确保企业不会利用雇佣较便宜的海外劳工来压低本地收入较高工人的待遇。
·取消了对某些岗位的英语语言能力要求豁免。许多长期持有457签证的外籍工作者都会接着去申请永久居留权，而这一变化将确保457签证项目的要求与永居权方面的雇主担保项目一致，后者要求申请人具备职业英语能力。这种变化将有利于签证持有人，因为它确保了持续受雇主雇佣的457签证持有者，在申请永久居留权时，不会因为他们的语言能力而处在不利位置。但是，年薪超过9.2万元的被担保申请人仍将继续豁免于英语语言要求。
·强化了移民部的监管权力，以确保受担保的签证持有人的工作条件符合澳洲标准，且457签证工人将不会被剥削或被利用来压低本地工人的待遇。
·修订了现有的培训基准规定，以澄清雇主培训澳洲本地人的义务即便是在他们的担保获批以后，也是持续的和具有约束力的，包括新成立的企业。
·修订了现有规定，以澄清457签证工人可能不得受到一个不相关实体的雇佣，除非他们是在一份劳资协议下获得的担保。
·修订了现有规定，使移民部可以在雇主撤回担保的情况下，退还签证申请费用。
在现有的法律下移民局监测和回应移民系统公正性的能力是有限的，新的措施将增强公正性同时不对签证申请处理时间产生不利影响，并且保证对企业的影响最小化。
这些措施将保证457签证计划更好的满足它的首要目的——作为对澳洲劳动力市场的补充而非替代。
这些措施还将弥补现行法律和政策设置的漏洞以保证签证计划只能被合适的技术人才利用，真正用来弥补技术上的不足。这将使澳洲本地工人拥有公平平等的就业机会。
此外，这些措施还将增强担保关系中的义务，使担保签证持有者的工作条件达到澳洲标准，而不是被剥削。加强担保关系中的义务同时还可以有效避免该项目被另作他用。
这些变化何时实施？
全套的措施将会在2013年7月1日生效。在实施这些变化之前，针对担保者、签证持有人及其代表们的更详细的信息将会披露，以使他们更理解新的要求。
这些变化将如何影响澳洲商业？
这些变化将不会对绝大多数正确利用这个签证计划的雇佣者有不利影响。但是会加强政府在识别和阻止用人单位违法方面的能力。
这些变化将如何影响457签证持有者？
对于现有的457签证持有者没有什么不利影响。457签证是一个临时签证，是为了弥补中期技能短缺而设立的，以便能快速灵活地满足商业需要。2009年9月生效的工人保护改革法案引入了一些担保关系条约，保证担保签证持有者的工作条件能够达到澳洲本地人的标准，并且保证他们不会被剥削。
这些变化将如何影响457签证的申请者？
457签证申请者的绝大部分都是真实的，这些变化并不会对他们产生影响。在一些情况下，申请者的申请是在2013年7月1日之后才开始处理的，这些人可能需要提交更多的证据，以证明他们申请457签证的立场。
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.
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