Indian eatery in Melbourne barred from hiring foreign workers

MELBOURNE: An Indian eatery here has been barred from recruiting foreign workers and fined about $12,000 for repeated breaches of the country's migration law.

The well-known eatery, which immigration authorities have refused to name, was fined 15,300 Australian dollars last year for various offences, including underpaying foreign staff and failing to keep proper records.

After further breaches were discovered this month, immigration authorities have now barred the eatery from bringing workers on skilled 457 visas, the Herald Sun reported.

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Michaelia Cash said the restaurant was among many businesses being monitored for breaches of the 457 sponsorship programme.

"Businesses acting in good faith have nothing to fear, but we want to send a strong message that if you breach your obligations, you can expect to face the consequences, including fines and cancellation of your sponsorship," she said.

The 457 visa programme is controversial, especially as it has been bringing a high number of foreign workers to the country amid rising unemployment.

As of September last year, there were about 1,10,000 people in Australia on 457 visas.