The number of people living in Canberra on 457 visas is on the rise, despite the federal government announcing it would scrap the scheme.
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ACT residents who are recipients of the foreign worker visa reached a two-year high in the past financial year, according to Department of Immigration figures.
In 2016-17 there were 1388 visa holders in Canberra, an increase of 11 per cent from the previous financial year.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced an overhaul of the visa scheme in April.
The abolition of the visa will come into effect from March 2018 and it will be replaced by a new Temporary Skill Shortage visa.
Candidates applying for the new visa will be subject to tougher English language tests as well as stricter labour market testing.
During the past financial year, the figures showed the number of primary visa holders - the sponsored employees - rose 5.5 per cent to 709 visa holders in the ACT.
Meanwhile, secondary visa holders - the families of primary holders - increased 19.1 per cent to 709 recipients.
Despite the modest increase during 2016-17, the number of residents living in Canberra on 457s are short of the record highs seen during 2011-12 of more than 2100 visa holders in the capital.
The Immigration Department figures show education and training was the most popular industry for the visa holders, with 140 working in the sector, down 9 per cent from the previous year.
It was closely followed by workers in health care and social assistance, which had 138 workers, accommodation and food services with 92, while professional, scientific and technical industry had 84 visa workers in the national capital.
The largest sector increase came from the manufacturing industry, which registered a 400 per cent jump over the 12-month period, while the information media and telecommunications industry had the largest decrease of workers, down 25 per cent to 52 employees.
This financial year, there have been 232 successful visa applications in the ACT as of September 30.
With the 457 visa's replacement coming into effect in four months, the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia is calling on the government to ensure that workers coming to Australia under the new visa are protected from abuse.
The council's chairperson Mary Patetsos said overseas workers were critical to Australia's economy.
"The government must ensure that the new categories of temporary work visas provide proper protections to migrant workers," she said.
"The key to safeguarding the welfare of migrants is encouraging the broader community to recognise the contribution of migrant workers to Australia's economy and society."
A spokesman for the Department of Immigration said it's expected that the number of people applying for the new Temporary Skills Shortage visa will fluctuate, depending on the response to economic needs.
