Melbourne sources stated that the 457 visa program, used by over 95,000 foreign workers, majority of them Indians, was replaced on March 18 by a new Temporary Skills Shortage visa program. Meanwhile the 457 visa program allowed businesses to employ foreign workers for a period up to four years in skilled jobs where there was a shortage of Australian workers.
Accordingly the majority of the visa holders under the category were from India, accounting almost a quarter of the intake, followed by the UK and China at 19.5% and 5.8% respectively. Moreover the visa allowed people to live in Australia with their immediate family and was designed to fill gaps in skilled labor but it had been criticized as being too accessible.
Furthermore the new visa program which came into effect from March 18 after an official notification issued by Department of Home Affairs, comprises two streams Short Term and Medium Term and is underpinned by more focused occupation lists that are responsive to genuine skill needs and regional variations across Australia. Further the short term visas will be issued for two years, while medium term visas will be issued only for more critical skills shortages and for up to four years.
