Providing SA skills shortage solutions with innovative DAMAs
28 May 2019
The State’s latest
skilled migration
pathways will breathe new life into
South Australia, particularly in the
regions, by enabling employers to grow their businesses now by finding
the skilled workers they need.
Minister for Innovation and Skills, David Pisoni, said the signing of
two Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) in April, delivers more
flexibility for businesses to deal with immediate
skills shortages
whilst they train their local staff to grow their businesses.
“The Marshall Liberal Government has been open and transparent about its
commitment to support the skills needs of South Australian employers and
growing the local economy,” he said.
“Initiatives like the $203 million investment in Skilling South
Australia and the DAMAs are just two of the ways in which we’re solving
a skills problem that the previous Labor Government failed to address.”
Minister Pisoni said the Marshall Liberal Government is now dealing with
five years of cuts to skills training and TAFE, inherited from Labor,
that includes:
-
A massive decline in numbers and funding for vocational education and training;
-
Ignoring regional communities and their workforce skills shortages;
-
Failing to address regional growth and exports.
“Whilst Skilling South Australia will equip local workers with the
skills they need for the jobs of the future, in the short-term certain
sectors and regions of the state are experiencing skills shortages which
are holding back economic growth, exports and employment.
“The DAMAs are designed to address these existing skills shortages,”
Minister Pisoni said.
“The
Adelaide City Deal DAMA will give employers the ability to source
highly-skilled workers in the Defence, space, advanced manufacturing and
technology industries, supporting the innovation hub – Future Industries
eXchange for Entrepreneurs (FIXE) – at Lot Fourteen.
“The Regional DAMA will enable employers in industries such as
agribusiness, food processing and hospitality and tourism in regional
South Australia, to sponsor skilled workers for jobs they have been
unable to fill through the existing workforce.
“For example, two-thirds of Australian meat processors, including those
in regional South Australia, are running under capacity due to serious
local skills shortages.”
The DAMAs prohibit wages being paid under the Australian award and must
comply fully with the Fair Work Act. They also include safeguards
regarding the conduct of employers and conditions for employees.
Minister Pisoni said in instances where employers have exhausted all
avenues to recruit local staff, skilled workers will be sourced to fill
those shortages without undercutting wages or paying workers below the
Award.
“The DAMAs ensure employers must exhaust all attempts to recruit
Australian citizens and permanent residents as a first priority,” he
said.
“Employers must provide evidence that they’ve advertised vacancies but
have been unable to fill these positions with local workers and that the
role can’t be done by an apprentice or trainee.”
Immigration SA will be the Designated Area Representative with a key
compliance and enforcement role.
Businesses accessing a DAMA must provide evidence of how they’ll
maintain a fair work
environment, including renumerating workers appropriately and
employment conditions that comply with Australian laws.
Minister Pisoni said employment numbers are capped in the first year at
750 for the Regional DAMA and 300 for the Adelaide City Deal DAMA.
“By filling regional and specialised city skills gaps, the Marshall
Liberal Government’s new DAMAs will allow South Australian businesses to
expand and employ more South Australians,” he said.
South Australia’s Chief Entrepreneur, Jim Whalley, said the Adelaide
City Deal DAMA is exactly what employers in high-tech businesses need,
particularly those attracted to Lot Fourteen.
“They will grow faster when they have the right people with the right
skills,” he said
“Additionally, the DAMAs will help us attract the global experts we need
to grow, mentor and skill the next generation.”
Chief Executive Officer of Migration Solutions, Mark Glazbrook, said
especially in South Australia, regional wages for comparable occupations
are often lower, than in bigger capital cities such as
Melbourne or
Sydney.
“A cook in Sydney, for example, will be paid more than a cook in Mount
Gambier due to differences in the cost of living”, he said.
“The position is the same and requires the same or similar skills,
qualifications and experience, however employers in regional Australia
are often unable to access or use the temporary migration program to
address the unmet demand for labour, as many of the award wages paid in
a regional area fall below the usual DAMA wage threshold.”
The program commences on 1 July 2019, with full details of the two DAMAs
now available on the Immigration SA website.
--ENDS--
Source: South Australian Government - www.premier.sa.gov.au
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