A recent report suggests that the Government of Australia has drafted a new law, which will be introduced to the Parliament in the next year, i.e., 2012.  Employers will have to pay a penalty up to $50,000, if they employ illegal overseas workers.

On the basis of mass consultations and the result of an independent analysis of the penalties and enforcement agreements for trades appointing workers, who are not Australian citizens but working in the country without permission, this particular policy has been drafted.

The Immigration Minister of Australia, Mr Chris Bowen, was quoted as saying that the main purpose of creating this law is to crack down on employers, who are recalcitrant.  He added that the government will become much strict on dishonest employers, to ensure that the country has a useful sanctions system to penalize those, who intentionally exploit overseas workers.

According to the said report, this new law will set fine up to $10,000 and civil penalties up to $50,000 for corporate people, and civil penalties and fines up to $10,000 and $2,000 accordingly for those, who employ or refer illegal workers. It visibly addresses the existing laws’ deficiencies.

It is also mentioned in the report that the Immigration Department of Australia will shortly launch an extensive education and awareness campaign to make the labour suppliers and employers know about the ways of obeying this new law, prior to its implementation.

In this connection Mr. Bowen, went on to add that during the drafting of this law, the Australian government has kept in mind the concerns of the employers on board, to include vital protections in the form of constitutional safeguards for the employers, who follow the right way by checking job entitlements.