Headlines
Indian eatery in Australia barred from hiring foreign hands
Sydney, Jan 26
Australian authorities have
cancelled an Indian restaurant's right to recruit foreign workers after
several breaches of migration law, media reported Monday.
The
well-known eatery in Melbourne, which immigration authorities have
refused to name, was fined A$15,300 (about $12,000) last year for
various offences, including underpaying foreign staff and failing to
keep records, the Herald Sun reported.
The eatery was barred from bringing workers on skilled 457 visas after further breaches were discovered this month.
Assistant
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Michaelia Cash said the
restaurant was among many businesses being monitored for breaches of the
457 sponsorship programme.
"Businesses acting in good faith have
nothing to fear, but we want to send a strong message that if you
breach your obligations, you can expect to face the consequences,
including fines and cancellation of your sponsorship," she said.
The
457 visa programme is controversial, especially as it has been bringing
a high number of foreign workers to the country amid rising
unemployment.
As of Sep 30 last year, there were about 110,000 people in Australia on 457 visas.