Recent changes announced by the Federal Government affect the employment of temporary visa-holders and migrant workers.
The Working Holiday Maker program
The Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas have different eligibility requirements, but their purpose is much the same: they let people aged 18 to 30 (or 35 in some cases) stay in Australia for up to 12 months and work throughout their stay.
The program is usually subject to a condition preventing a visa-holder from working for any single employer for longer than six months (with limited exceptions). In other words, Working Holiday Makers can work for the full 12 months, as long as they don't work for the same employer at the same location for more than six months.
The recent change
This condition was relaxed in January 2022, allowing Working Holiday Makers to work for one employer for their entire stay — initially until 31 December 2022. Earlier this year the government extended that relaxation until 30 June 2023, meaning any employment before 1 July 2023 won't count towards the six-month limit once the condition resumes.
That's good news for employers and visa-holders, but bear in mind the six-month limit will soon apply again to new visa-holders granted a visa on or after 1 July 2023. Existing employees on the program can keep working with the same employer at the same location until 31 December 2023.