Aiming to reduce the industry's shortage of skilled workers, the Australian Government has announced the conception of a new proposed template labour agreement.

An initiative designed by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen MP and the Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson AM MP, the agreement is desiged to assist the tourism attract international workers by creating a common set of requirements tailored specifically for tourism businesses recruiting overseas workers.

Minister Ferguson explained that with 36,000 vacancies expected in the industry by 2015, addressing the need for new labour was critical.

He said there was a particular need to for requirement in regional areas.

“Tourism injects around $35 billion a year into the Australian economy and the Government is acting to ensure labour and skills issues impacting on the tourism industry’s competitiveness are addressed under the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, Tourism 2020,” Minister Ferguson said.

Including recruitments for waiters, chef, bar attendants, hotel managers and other occupations, Mr Bowen added that the agreement balances between visa recruitments while also allowing Australian businesses to locate and reach skilled workers.

“Approved employers could nominate workers for temporary skilled subclass 457 visas using the template, enabling workers to be granted visas where they meet the requirements,” he said. 

“Of course, employers would need to show they are doing their best to employ and train domestic workers and paying market rates.”

The agreement is now open for public comment on areas of eligible businesses, occupations, salary, skills levels and English language requirements.

The discussion paper can be found here: www.tourism.gov.au/labour