Minimum Salary Levels
Change - The indexation of the minimum salary level (MSL) for all new and existing 457 visa holders by 4.1% on 1 July 2009, in line with all employees' total earnings last year as reported by the ABS. This ensures that the wages of overseas workers keep pace with local wages.

For most occupations the new minumum is $45,222 plus supannuation from 1 July 2009 - Up from $43,440 plus super. This means a payrise for all 457 visa holders who were on the previous minumum salary level for all work done after 1 July 2009.

Market Based Minimum Salary
Change - The implementation of a market based minimum salary for all new and existing 457 visa holders from mid September 2009, to ensure overseas workers are not exploited and local wages and conditions are not undermined.

English Language Requirement
Change - Increasing the existing minimum language requirement from 4.5 IELTS to 5 IELTS for 457 visa applicants in trade occupations and chefs, to address concerns about the exploitation of workers from non-English speaking countries and align the 457 visa English language standard with the permanent sponsored visa for trades' occupations.

Skills Assessments for 457 Visa Applicants
Change - Progressively introducing formal skills assessment from 1 July 2009 for 457 visa applicants from high risk immigration countries in trade occupations and chefs. The Government will consult with stakeholders in finalising an assessment framework that reflects Australian standards and meets the expectations of Australian workplaces.

Employing or Hiring Local Labour
Change - Introducing a requirement that employers seeking access to the 457 visa program have a strong record of, or demonstrated commitment to, employing local labour and non-discriminatory employment practices. This will help address concerns that some employers may discriminate against local labour in hiring overseas workers.

Record of Training or Demonstrated Commitment to Training
Change - The development of training benchmarks to clarify the existing requirement on employers to demonstrate a commitment to training local labour.

Labour Agreements
Change - The extension of the labour agreement pathway to all ASCO 5 - 7 occupations, to ensure that employers using the 457 visa program to access these occupations satisfy obligations on local training and employment.