The ABS reported the number of people employed increased by 19,600 people to 10.988 million, seasonally adjusted, in March.

The rise in employment was driven by a rise in full-time employment, up 30,100 people to 7.691 million that was offset by a fall in part-time employment, down 10,600 people to 3.297 million. This was the seventh consecutive month Australia has seen a rise in the number of people employed full-time.

The number of people unemployed increased in March, up 4,200 people to 619,100, the ABS reported.

The ABS seasonally adjusted monthly aggregate hours worked series showed a fall in March, down 10.0 million hours to 1,541.2 million hours.

The ABS reported the participation rate in March was 65.1 per cent.

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

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

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. #

The Workplace Ombudsman says the treatment of one male and two female 457 visa-holders was nothing short of shabby.

“There were times when these vulnerable workers did not have enough money to put food on the table,” Workplace Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell revealed.

Mr Campbell says the migrant workers were treated unconscionably by a Sydney-based labour hire agency, which deliberately underpaid them more than $15,000.

“When they asked about their wages, they were fobbed off with false promises and threats,” he said.

Mr Campbell said the case highlighted a serious dereliction of duty by Healthcare Recruiting Australia and its sole director Michelle Lloyd.

Lloyd and her company have been fined a total of $48,000 in the Federal Magistrate’s Court for four breaches of the Workplace Relations Act.

Mr Campbell says the company withheld the workers’ entitlements for more than a year after workplace inspectors identified the underpayments.

He says the company unlawfully deducted significant sums of money from their wages for training that was never provided, for rent, agency fees and airfares.

“The workers have told how there were times when they were living on the charity of others and felt ashamed they could not pay their rent,” he said.

“They were upset and frustrated and their treatment was obviously a very difficult time both financially and emotionally.”

HRA placed the three workers at two Sydney nursing/aged care facilities in 2005 and 2006 where they provided residents with personal care and assisted them with showering, dressing and eating.

However, Mr Campbell says HRA failed to pay full wages, casual loadings, penalty rates and holiday pay and made unlawful deductions without the workers’ consent.

He described the case as very serious and said the court penalty should serve as a warning to other recruitment companies bringing in migrant workers.

The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney welcomed the ruling of the Federal Magistrate’s Court.

Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro said: “We are pleased with the outcome of the case and we are very appreciative of the efforts and the assistance extended by the Workplace Ombudsman to the affected Filipino nurses.”

The Workplace Ombudsman has investigated more than 400 matters relating to 457 visa-holders over the past two years, recovering more than $1.3 million in underpayments for overseas workers. / Workplace Ombudsman
#

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. #