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TWU Welcomes review of 457 visas
The Transport Workers Union has today welcomed the announcement that industrial relations commissioner Barbara Deegan will head a review of the 457 visa scheme to examine concerns about the exploitation of migrant workers and salary levels.
Figures suggesting higher wages for workers on 457 visas ignore the reality faced by many
temporary overseas workers by over estimating the wages paid and not recognising the
negative impacts on safety and training within the industry.
TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon: “The transport industry remains one of the most
dangerous sectors in Australia and there is a serious concern that the introduction of 457 visas
into the industry will compromise road safety and standards.
“If a worker on a 457 visa does not agree with their boss, then they face the risk of being sacked
and forced back to their country of origin. Safety will be the first casualty of this kind of pressure
on workers.
“An overseas worker without experience on Australian roads, with no knowledge of their rights
or the complexities and dangers of our local industry puts all roads users at risk.”
In the financial year of 2006/2007 alone, 228* people needlessly died as a direct result of heavy
vehicle incidents on our roads. While in NSW, there were 1200 reported injuries within the
transport industry.
The TWU is also concerned that the introduction of 457 visas will entrench current barriers to
recruitment and retention within the industry, and fails to address the industry wide reasons for
impending workforce challenges in road transport.
It is estimated that between 80-90% of all training that is conducted in road transport is actually
of existing workers already qualified and licensed to drive heavy vehicles. In 2006, the Federal
Government spent at least $34 million dollars on training incentives, none of which has gone
towards training and licensing the next generation of truck driver.**
“Further investment by State and Federal Government’s in the training of new entrants to our
industry is the answer to any tightening of the market. It is not the introduction of 457 visas”, Mr
Sheldon said.
The TWU believes that drivers brought here on temporary working visas would receive on
average $20,000 less than other transport workers within the industry.
The TWU will use this review to continue to fight the introduction of 457 visas into the transport
industry as a matter of safety for all road users in Australia.
*Source: Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s Quarterly Bulletin: Fatal Heavy Vehicle Crashes
Australia, June 2007.
**Source: Workforce Challenges in Road Transport: Truck Driver Recruitment, Retention and
Retirement Research Project, Globe Workplace, January 2007.
Media Inquiries Josh McIntosh 0408 463 199.
15 April 2008
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