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ARTICLE · 28 JULY 2013

Hiring a worker who is not an Australian citizen? Your responsibilities have now increased

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Businesses, managers, executive officers and recruiters must review procedures around hiring workers and visa checks.

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IN BRIEF

For some businesses attracting and retaining employees in low skill or alternately highly specialised roles is an ongoing challenge. To stay competitive and retain control of the labour spend, it can be necessary to employ workers who are not citizens of Australia. There has always been an element of risk for employers, attached to this issue. In March of this year the Federal Government increased the penalties on business for breaches of these responsibilities. Further, the legislation now squarely renders company directors personally liable for breaches. It represents yet another disincentive to an individual to assume a role as a director of a business in Australia.

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