Australia
is one of the best places in the world to spend your whole life peacefully. The
country has scenic beauty, clean air, progressive economy, and stable
government. But, one of the major problems the country faces every year is the
shortage of labour in multiple fields. Every year, the government authority of
Australia releases an occupation list. According to the list, overseas workers
can apply for a job in the country. There is an agreement called DAMA or Designated
Area Migration Agreement is signed between the government and a regional, state
or territory authority of the country. With this agreement, a region can access
more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program. The
agreement has a two-tier framework that covers a defined area. The first tier is an agreement signed between the
government and the region. The second tier is the labour agreement between the employer of the designated region and
the government.
DAMA ensures that
employers first give preference to Australian citizens and permanent residents.
They must put genuine effort to hire employees from Australia first. At
present, there are seven DAMA in place. The agreement is generally in effect for
5 years from the date of the agreement.
Visas Come Under the DAMA Agreement
Temporary Skills
Shortage Visa
It is best known as
TSS visa. It is a provision visa plan that is valid for up to 4 years. The visa
is designed for skilled workers who are nominated by employers who have signed
the labour agreement under DAMA. The
visa plan is further divided into various streams including short-term stream,
medium-term stream, labour agreement stream, and subsequent entrant. The
processing time and eligibility for each stream can vary. The basic eligibility
includes nomination by an approved sponsor, having the right skills, and
meeting the relevant English requirements.
Skilled Employer
Sponsored Regional Visa
The subclass 494 visa
allows the applicant to live and work in the specified region. The visa falls
into several streams including Employer Sponsored Stream, Labour Agreement
Stream, and Subsequent Entrant. The visa duration is up to 5 years.
Employer Nominated
Scheme Visa
The subclass 186 visa
allows skilled workers nominated by their employers to live and work in
Australia permanently. The visa falls into several streams including Data Entry
Stream, Labour Agreement Stream, and Temporary Residence Transition Stream. The
processing time of each stream is varied. The basic eligibility includes having
necessary skills for the job, must be nominated by an Australian employer, and
meet the health and character requirements.
