The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) is welcoming the release of the Federal Government migration strategy which will prioritise skilled workers in industries facing long-term labor shortages, including the automotive service and repair sector.
The new strategy addresses several concerns that the aftermarket industry has raised for years including complexity and cost, as the sector wrestles with a shortage of over 30,000 skilled workers.
“We appreciate the Government’s commitment to creating regulated pathways for desperately needed workers, maintaining strong relationships with the Pacific region, and establishing a mainstream temporary skills pathway that brings core skills to Australia,” AAAA chief executive Stuart Charity says.
“Although migration is not a magic fix for skills shortages, changes to the migration system will greatly benefit many businesses.
“Many of our members have considered sponsoring overseas workers to fill vital skilled roles, however a complex process, combined with exorbitant fees for visas and accreditation courses costing some mechanical workshops over $20,000 per worker have been a significant deterrent.
“These costs are something that AAAA believes the Federal Government should look to lower as part of its migration strategy.
“Workforce restrictions for businesses has knock on effects on the cost and availability of repairs and maintenance for Australian car owners. We hope that the government builds on this initial outline to ensure businesses have a transparent system that places productivity as the key priority.
“Skilled migration could play a pivotal role in helping build much needed capacity in the automotive service and repair sector in Australia. We look forward to engaging with the government on how we can best achieve shared goals for the industry and leverage the new migration policy to address the skills shortage in our sector,” Charity says.
*Click here for more information on the migration strategy.
