While employment hits 12 year highs Abbott is gifting his mates 457 visa quotas. Is Abbott going for cash for services rendered too early. Does he risk his cash mountain by angering the public? Watch this space.

http://www.actu.org.au/Media/Mediareleases/Aussieworkersleftinthecoldbyappalling...

"... Resource, health and service sector unions are united in calling for a Senate Inquiry into the 457 visa scheme following allegations of widespread rorting.

“Unemployment has hit a 12 year high yet instead of tightening up requirements to import labour – the Government is trying to help employers bypass local workers in the Northern Territory under new designated area migration agreements,” said ACTU President Ged Kearney.

Submissions to a Government Review into the 457 visa scheme closed four months ago and the Government is still yet to release its report.

“The Government is sitting on the report and failing to properly investigate allegations of abuse of the 457 visa program, while at the same time making it easier for employers to bring in foreign workers in the Northern Territory,” said Ms Kearney.

“A Senate Inquiry should focus on ensuring that there is a transparent and regulated system – that before a company is allowed to sponsor a single 457 visa worker they have genuinely exhausted all local options. We need a system that ensures local jobs and training first,” said Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) National Secretary Paul Bastian.

“With the construction boom in the resource sector coming to end we will have thousands of construction workers looking for work, but the Government seems intent on destroying the job opportunities of locals while allowing the exploitation of overseas workers,” said Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) National Secretary Michael O’Connor.

Unions share concerns that 457 visas are increasingly seen as an alternative to investing in skills training.

"Across the country we are seeing employers reducing apprentice numbers, cutting their investment in training, then complaining they are unable to find skilled workers, all while the youth unemployment rate continues to soar,” said Electrical Trades Union (ETU) National Secretary Allen Hicks.

“Our members are also warning that in many specialist trades that involve dangerous work, they are seeing workers hired whose training and skills fail to meet Australian licensing standards," said Mr Hicks...."