If you are seeking to employ overseas nationals to work for you
in Australia, it is imperative to check their visa work rights as
this can save you thousands.
Under the Migration Amendment (reform of Employer
Sanction) Bill 2012, it is now much easier for the
Government to prosecute non-compliant companies. Employers are
defined as either 'knowing' or 'should have known'
about their employees' work rights.
Under the new Act, employers accused of breaches must prove that
they have taken reasonable steps to check the visa conditions of
people found to be working illegally within their business. There
are statutory defences available to individuals and businesses that
make genuine attempts to verify the status of an overseas national,
through means such as checking the Federal Government Visa
Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) electronic system.
