Aged care CEOs plead with the Gov to exclude aged care from increase in immigration wage cap
“It just seems a little illogical because we have these labour hire agreements in place, they’re effective, they’re covering more roles, and they are dealing with immediate need,” he told Financial Review
Aged care providers are asking the federal government to exclude the sector from the incoming increase in the minimum salary for sponsoring temporary migrants, saying the move will make it more difficult to access workers from overseas. In April, the Government announced the minimum salary for sponsoring a temporary skilled migrant will increase from $53,900 to $70,000. The change will take place from 1 July 2023.
But the Australian Financial Review is reporting that aged care providers believe the decision will jeopardise their company-specific labour agreements (CSLAs), which have been established to help providers recruit workers from overseas – with some providers spending tens of thousands of dollars working on the agreements.
Chris Mamarelis, chief executive of Not For Profit provider Whiddon, which operates 19 residential aged care homes and 13 retirement villages, said the $70,000 salary floor will make their CSLAs obsolete. He is hoping the government will offer last-minute exemptions or grandfathering on the policy.
“It just seems a little illogical because we have these labour hire agreements in place, they’re effective, they’re covering more roles, and they are dealing with immediate need,” he told Financial Review.
The increase in the wage floor will drive aged care providers onto the Government’s new Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements, which have a minimum salary of $51,222 and offer migrants a fast-tracked two-year pathway to permanent residency as well as prioritised processing.
