we both know nb that it does work for some - like you and i ( i am happy on 457 but will be applying for pr next yr)

but and this is the big but

it does seem like a visa for some not so good employers to take the **** out of their employees and work them like work mules for little money some get away with paying just over the min wage to get them in to country - but make them work many hours over contract hrs

and then can fire them at will - sending them packing - with no right of address for the sacked employee - just get out of the country in 28days !

it deffo is buyer beware on this visa - really really think about what could happen if it all went wrong - but it is a very hard lesson for the original poster i do hope there is good news for them - and that they do manage to get something sorted

ireally do wish them well - and will keep my fingers crossed for them

Absolutely agree.

i am bumping this up in the hope that a agent might see it and give some advice to the op xx

We camt to Oz on a 457 with a large Engineering Consultancy Company. Hubby offered fab job, lots of projects for him to manage etc. etc. Company paid for everything so we kind of thought whats not to try.

The company basically were economical with the truth and contrary to many of the posts, they haven't found him any work to do but are quite happy to continue to pay him a vast salary to sit around looking good. Great you might say but Hubby is bored out of his brain. He is now desperate to go back to the UK to do some real work.

Problem with 457 is that he is stuck working for this company for 12 months as we would have to pay it all back if he were to leave now. It is also spoiling the OZ experience.

What can you do to stop this happening - nothing - really as we didn't have any contacts here. Apparently, this is quite common and the recruitment agent said that several of her placements had gone back to the UK for this same reason. Amazingly, this company are still recruiting worldwide for people in the same area as hubby. He is gobsmacked.

Hey better bored than homeless!

If they are paying fat checks to go to the beach can I ask what area of work your hubby is in? I might retrain quickly....

Big engineering consultancy based in Milton, Brisbane. Its not just my hubbys area of engineering as we have heard of the same thing in other areas of consultancy work.

Alas, no beach - its not that good - sat in front of a computer in an office block desperately trying to find stuff to do! Been there done it -its soul destroying. Yes, he has had one to one meetings to try and improve the situation but no joy. To make matters worse, there is absolutely no office banter, its heads down and work (albeit imaginary work!) from 9 til 5.

Homeless - when there is no work, you are constantly thinking will he be made redundant and will he then be able to get another OZ job. We wouldn't be homeless and he has UK job offers awaiting if we decide to return and we still have our humble UK abode. Thank God

Ahh I conceed that is very different. I've been there too and its mind destroying. And I see your point about worrying re redundancy.

Do you mind me asking what type of engineering? OH is an engineer and always good to know whats happening in the industry as a whole.

Ah bit scared now - I'll PM you

Your husband and I must be colleagues as I also do imaginary work!

God, its sad isn't?
What has life become that one would complain about being paid to do nothing?

Unlike you we have no home to go back to in the uk sold everything to come to Perth.
We are now having to send all our furntiure we have bought here back to the uk and are having to start again on the property ladder, we sold two cars and I give up a job I had been doing for 22 years, where do we start when we get back?
We have also got a car and a holden hilux to sell before 6th october if anyone interested?

You can come round and do my hoovering then you layabout!

What's in it for me?

Hey, Mr Turban.