With a shortage of skilled labour in its booming mining sector, Australia has for the first time passed measures to allow migrant workers to come in and fill the gap.
The Enterprise Migration Agreement (EMA) announced last Friday allows companies with projects worth more than $2-billion (Australian) to recruit skilled workers from overseas on fixed contracts.
With a population of 22 million, Australia is struggling to find enough skilled workers at home to satisfy demand from China and other major markets for its abundant natural resources.
The first agreement was granted to mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s $9.5 billion (Australian) Roy Hill iron ore project in the remote Pilbara region of northwestern Australia. Hancock Prospecting, a company owned by Rinehart (recently named the world’s richest woman), will bring in 1,715 construction workers for a three-year period.
The Roy Hill project, one of the biggest in the iron ore sector, plans to start shipping ore in 2014, with production expected to peak at 55 million tonnes a year.
"The Government's first priority is always ensuring jobs for Australian workers," said Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen," but there is a need for temporary workers to help keep our economy strong. "With more than 8,000 workers required during the construction phase of the Roy Hill project, there simply aren't enough people in the local workforce to get the job done."
The government estimates the resources industry will need an extra 89,000 workers by 2016 to meet demand, with a peak of 49,000 short-term construction jobs in 2014.
"While the emphasis is on developing local workers, the Government acknowledges that increased migration has a major role to play in providing skills that cannot be met by the Australian labour market," said Federal Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson.
