YES, obviously, it does with increased competition for jobs!
IT was the Howard Government that introduced TEMPORARY VISAS … for Workers and Students which replaced Australia’s Permanent Migration of 70,000 people annually
PRIOR to the PANDEMIC there were 2.3 MILLION VISA HOLDERS of which 1.6 MILLION were VISA WORKERS in AUSTRALIA!
… willing to work for slave rates and conditions … with the goal of gaining Permanent Residency and a new life here …
THIS has led to high unemployment and underemployment of Australians …
‘The one million Australians forgotten in the unemployment statistics‘
IT would seem that too many Employers are exploiting the desire of temporary migrants to come here to gain residency by working in jobs not linked to their qualifications but in cleaning, hospitality, and fruit picking for three or more years before gaining employment in their chosen vocation.
‘Since the borders shut in March last year, more than 500,000 temporary migrants have left the country,’
SO what did Employers do since the Pandemic? It appears they have held out with few offering better wages and conditions, and continue to push for the return of high immigration of Visa Workers! Alleging skilled worker gaps …
IT appears the lowest wages growth for more than 60 years … is being maintained!
These temporary and student permits (Visas) ‘make people more vulnerable to exploitation by employers’ because employers can threaten them with deportation or punishment so these temporary migrants can be underpaid in exploitative work!
‘This can go on to depress wages in that sector: something seen through large-scale wage theft and rip-offs in hospitality and the agricultural sector.’
READ MORE!
COMMUNITY ACTION ALLIANCE FOR NSW (CAAN): HOUSING INEQUALITY WITH AUSSIES LOCKED OUT! 