This week the Restaurant & Catering Australia Association lodged a submission to the 457 Visa Integrity Review. This aspect of the review was focussed on the English Language Requirement for overseas workers and OH&S.
Following distribution of the DRAFT it was suggested that the submission should call for no English language requirement for overseas cooks, whereas the draft submission, and association policy is that the level of language should be as required for the job.
The draft submission suggested that the current requirement should be relaxed but falls short of calling for it to be eliminated all together. There was very little support for strengthening the call and the submission was lodged consistent with the draft.
The report now recommends that:
· That the English language requirement across the Board be lowered to very basic functional English level (perhaps IELTS 4 or below) and, where necessary, specific vocation by vocation requirements be applied;
· That an option for testing on-shore, with the option to undertake make-up training, be facilitated, and;
· That the rights and obligations of employers and employees, in relation to occupational health and safety, not be considered on the basis of their country of origin or that nature of their work arrangements, they should exist, as they do now for all employers and employees.
