Australia’s unemployment rate at 5.3 per cent in March 2010: ABS

The Australian unemployment rate remained steady at 5.3 per cent in March, the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced today. The ABS reported the number of people employed increased by 19,600 people to 10.988 million [...]

Australia’s unemployment rate at 5.7 per cent in November 2009: ABS

The Australian seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in November, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today. The unemployment rate fell 0.1 per cent, from 5.8 per cent in October.

The number of people employed in November increased by 31,200 (0.3%) to 10.868 million, seasonally adjusted, the ABS reported. The rise in employment was driven by a rise in full-time employment, up 30,800 to 7.627 million.

The ABS reported the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed decreased by 13,300 in November, standing at 653,100.

The ABS seasonally adjusted monthly aggregate hours worked series showed a rise in November, up 13.4 million hours (0.9%) to 1,536.3 million hours.

The ABS participation rate in November was 65.2 per cent, seasonally adjusted.

The ABS seasonally adjusted labour force underutilisation rate was 13.5 per cent in November, down 0.1 per cent from August.

Source: ABS

Older Australians spent more time looking for work

Around 1.7 million or 1 in 10 Australians (aged 15 years and over) were out of work and looking for a job at some time during the year up to February 2009.

On average, people aged 55 years and over spent the most time looking for work while not working (21 out of 52 weeks), according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. On average,15-19 year olds spent the least time looking for work while not working (13 out of 52 weeks).

The average time spent looking for work whilst not working was around 16 weeks for both men and women.

Men were more likely to be out of work and looking for a job during the year than women (52% compared to 48%).

Of those who looked for work, three-quarters had one period of looking for work while not working during the twelve months to February 2009. The majority of those who looked (74%) spent less than 26 weeks looking for work, while 7% looked for the whole 12 months without finding a job. // Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Philippine labour officials to visit Australia

A delegation from the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will be in Australia 3-14 November for a mission to appraise the needs of Australia for skilled Filipino workers, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney reported.

The delegation, headed by Labor Undersecretary Rosalinda Baldoz, former administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), will comprise representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and DOLE officials for international labor affairs and labor studies.

They will visit Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Cairns.

POEA is the Philippines’ peak agency that regulates the hiring of Filipinos for overseas employment. OWWA provides programs that look after the welfare of expatriate Filipino workers. TESDA sets standards and provides the official certifications for technical skills.

The demand for certain categories of Filipino skilled workers prompted the Philippine Department of Labor to study a systematic and streamlined procedure for providing temporary stay workers for the Australian market, as well as to set into place the programs and services that will look after their welfare. #

Filipino nursing assistants treated shabbily, says workplace watchdog

The national workplace watchdog has labelled as reprehensible the exploitation of three Filipinos recruited as nursing assistants in Sydney. The Workplace Ombudsman says the treatment of one male and two female 457 visa-holders was nothing short of shabby [...]

Australia seeks foreign workers, but beware of illegal recruiters

AN APPARENT SKILLS SHORTAGE is driving Australian companies to hire skilled workers from other countries, and the Philippines is seen as a source country for needed workers. Filipinos seeking overseas work will find Australia a good prospect, but they are warned to beware of illegal recruiters.

The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney received reports of individuals posing as recruiters victimizing Filipinos who wish to work in Australia, following news reports in the Philippines in January 2008 that Australia has 120,000 job openings available to foreigners, especially Filipinos.

Filipinos being recruited for Australia must be aware of the type of visa that their recruiter is applying for them. The type of visa commonly issued to Filipinos hired for work in Australia is the “457 Visa”.

Australian companies who wish to recruit skilled workers must be permitted to do so by the Australian Government. The Government issues to these companies a “Temporary Business Long Stay Visa”, which is also known as the “Standard Business Sponsorship Subclass 457 Visa” or the “457 Visa”, which is then provided to the foreigner workers they employ.

These authorized companies can either directly hire Filipino workers or employ a POEA-accredited manpower agency.

A Filipino who is recruited for Australian employment is matched to an Australian company that has been issued a 457 Visa. The Filipino worker receives the 457 Visa through the Australian Embassy in Manila.

The 457 Visa allows a foreigner temporary long stay for work purposes for a period of six months to four years. This visa does not give permanent residency or migration status.

The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney cautions potential workers for Australia against unlicensed manpower agencies or unauthorized Australian companies who illegally recruit Filipino workers. Illegally-hired foreign workers in Australia are exposed to abuses, hazards, and risks. If they are caught, they are deported and blacklisted from future re-entry into Australia.

The following are signs that a job applicant is being recruited illegally:

* If a recruiter offers long-term work but does not apply the candidate for a 457 Visa, then it may be an indication that the work is not legitimate or that the employment arrangements are not in order.

* If a recruiter offers long-term work but applies the applicant for a Short-Stay Business Visa (also called the “456 Visa”), then it may be an indication that the work is not legitimate or that the employment arrangements are not in order. A 456 visa allows entry for business meetings, or conference- or training-related visits and allows a stay of up to three months. Short-term work of up to six weeks is only permitted in strictly limited circumstances.

* If a recruiter offers long-term work but applies the job applicant only for tourist visa, then it is a definite indication that the work arrangement is not legitimate. Illegal recruiters often apply a victim for a tourist or short stay business visa, and instruct the latter to change his visa status to a long stay or even a permanent residency in Australia. However, such status changes are not usually allowed.

* If a recruiter makes the applicant pay for Australian administrative fees and/or air travel to Australia, then the recruiter is violating Australian laws require a company to shoulder all costs of fees and the worker’s air travel to Australia. The worker must not pay for his air travel to Australia.

Any Filipino, who was recruited to work in Australia under a 457 Business Visa program and was compelled to pay processing fees or air travel to Australia by their recruiter or employer, may lodge a complaint with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) through email address nsw.457.integrity@immi.gov.au.

Finally, Philippine Consul General Maria Theresa P. Lazaro emphasized that Australia does not allow the recruitment of domestic maids and farm workers from overseas. Any manpower agency that claims to be recruiting maids and farm workers for Australia is deceiving applicants. #