Many of our hospitality industry clients will be anxious to see what occupations the Government’s new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) will include. On 8 February 2010, the Minister for Immigration, the Hon. Senator Chris Evans, announced the replacement of the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) in the second half of 2010, with a new list of targeted occupations determined by the independent body, Skills Australia as well as the removal of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). The SOL listed cooks, chefs and restaurant and catering staff whilst the MODL contained chefs on its list.
In March 2010, Skills Australia published a new Skilled Occupation List in their recently published report, “Australian Workforce Futures: A National Workforce Development Strategy” which they will recommend to the Government to be used in the General Skilled Migration Program. This list, however, does not include any skilled occupations in the restaurant and catering industries.
The Government needs to seriously consider the impact that such an omission would have on an industry which contributes some $16 billion per annum to the economy and in which there is already a significant shortage of qualified chefs, cooks, waiters and managers.
The restaurant, café and catering industry is one of Australia’s largest employers with the demand for employees in the next twelve months likely to exceed 35,000 people. It is an industry which is 7% underemployed.
We will try and keep our clients abreast of any new developments in immigration law in our future newsletters.
If any clients have queries about sponsoring their workers and/or their immigration status, please contact us to make arrangements for a consultation with Ms Angela Chan.