Australia has announced that it will be bringing back its work hours for international students.
- Australia has announced changes to its rules for those on a student visa that includes capping the working hours for foreign students from 40 to 48 hours.
- According to an Australian Home Ministry release, the new rules will come into effect from July 1. The ministry also said that they will be extending the duration of the post-study stay for student visa holders.
- The present arrangement will continue till June 30 to allow students to support themselves financially and have sufficient time to concentrate on their degrees.
What this means for you ?? You must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is flexibility in the number of hours you can work.
You must still:
- Maintain your course enrolment
- Ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
- Ensure satisfactory course progress.
If you cancel your enrolment and stop attending classes, or fail to meet satisfactory course progress, you may be in breach of your visa conditions.
Your work rights remain the same
- International students have the same rights under Australian workplace law as all other employees. Therefore, employers must continue to follow Australian workplace law. Under these laws, employers cannot allow a student visa holder to work in breach of their visa conditions.
- If you are not being treated fairly in the workplace, please contact the Fair Work Ombudsman as soon as possible. Your employer cannot cancel your visa, and the Department of Home Affairs will not cancel your visa for reporting workplace exploitation to the Fair Work Ombudsman, even if you have worked more than the allowed number of hours in a fortnight.
