Student Work Hours in COVID19
With COVID-19 (Coronavirus) now declared a pandemic, many local communities have felt compelled to join the throng in stockpiling household goods and items that others, especially the vulnerable, are struggling to access.
In response, the Australian government have implemented a temporary initiative to help major supermarkets meet the high demand for essential items by allowing international students to work longer hours to stock shelves and replenish much needed goods.
Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge, stated “to keep up with this demand, supermarkets have told us they need to give extra hours to current staff to stock shelves and serve Australian customers. While many of these will be Australian workers, international students will also be able to increase their hours.”
Generally, visitors on Australian international student visas (excluding those completing a masters by research or a doctorate course) are not allowed to work more than 40 hours per fortnight whilst their course is in session. This restriction doesn’t apply when the international student is working between course sessions e.g. during a semester break.
However, the new provisions put in place will extend temporarily to those whose course is still in full session, with the government promising to undertake regular reviews to ensure the measures are working, and to those who are already student visa holders working in such positions with major supermarket chains such as Woolworths and Coles. Other retail outlets looking to take part in the scheme will need to register with the Department of Home Affairs.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan also stated that these measures would help stores meet immediate demand with their existing work force and allow international students to support themselves, “our government is working to minimise the impact of COVID-19 in the higher education sector, this includes the impact on students supporting themselves while they study…. This initiative will give international students more flexibility to work while studying and also allow employers to meet demand during a busy period.”
Whilst it is expected that students will still be required to comply with the conditions of their visa such as achieving satisfactory course progress and course attendance requirements, employers will also still be obliged to comply with relevant Australian workplace laws.
If you would like to know more about these developments, international student visas or Australian work rights, please contact us.