Popular skilled migration categories in the ACT remain untouched by a crackdown on 457 visas, as one leading Canberra restaurateur says overseas workers remain a key hiring tool for a vibrant local workforce.
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull defended his government's surprise changes to the 457 scheme on Wednesday, saying a new restricted set of employment categories would come with tougher labour market testing requirements, background and language checks.
Department of Immigration data shows in 2016 the most popular categories for existing temporary work visas in the ACT were for university lecturers, resident medical officers, registered nurses, cafe and restaurant managers, retail supervisors and cooks.
Nominations for 457 visa positions increased by 11 per cent in the ACT in the year to October, with applicants most likely to come from India, the UK, Philippines, China and South Korea.
Among the major industries for the 200 overseas worker visas issued were accommodation and food services, construction, education and health care.
Boat House restaurant owner James Souter said Canberra's restaurant and hospitality sector relied on overseas workers for a small number of jobs.
"Canberra can be difficult to find staff, and we'd always love to hire locally, but culturally it works well and it can be easier," he said.
"It will be interesting to see how these latest changes play out. I have certainly had positive experiences of the program and people who have been here have worked hard."
Mr Souter said he had hired workers from the UK, France, Taiwan and Germany, with each employee adding to the quality and vibrancy offered to customers.
"For a small business like ours, we always advertise here first anyway. Once you've gone through that process and shown local applicants are not suitable or didn't accept the position, you've got the basis to look elsewhere.
"I've used them on the restaurant floor in the past but typically it's in the kitchen. We're looking for qualified chefs and cooks," he said.
The 651 professions eligible for 457 visas will be reduced to 435 eligible for two-year authorisations, with four-year visa categories even shorter.
Mr Souter said he believed the government had already begun to take a tougher approach.
"To get the 457 properly, you need to do all the background things properly and, to be honest, I think they were already tightening things up.
"They were putting more stringent measures in place when we had trouble with our last application, or maybe adhering to the rules more," he said.
