Published on Thursday, 13 June 2024 at 4:32:10 PM
Goldfields employers using the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) program are being advised of an increase in the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).
As the Goldfields Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) representative, the City is advising employers of this change recently announced by the Government.
The TSMIT is the minimum salary threshold that can be paid under many employer-sponsored visa programs and is currently set at $70,000 but will increase nationwide to $73,150 from 1 July 2024.
The Goldfields DAMA, which allows employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers in specified industries with critical skills and labour shortages, has a 10% TSMIT concession for some occupations. This means that businesses employing overseas workers through the Goldfields DAMA in occupations with the TSMIT concession can apply to pay the worker a reduced TSMIT of $63,000.
The increase to the TSMIT on 1 July 2024 will mean the reduced concession TSMIT rate increases to $65,835.
The change will not affect existing visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2024.
Mayor Glenn Wilson said the TSMIT increase is part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance the skilled migration program as outlined at the Jobs and Skills Submmit in September 2022.
“Despite the increase, the reduced TSMIT concession recognises the unique labour conditions in the Goldfields.”
“All workers employed under the Goldfields DAMA must be employed under Australian employment conditions and receive no less than what an Australian would to undertake the same job in the same location.”
“It is a priority for the Goldfields DAMA to always promote jobs for Australians first, with employers having to demonstrate skills shortages and their attempt to fill job vacancies with Australian citizens and permanent residents.”
Where employers are unable to fill job vacancies, the DAMA provides an additional pathway to bring in skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers, including through the provision of concessions such as the TSMIT, Mayor Wilson said.
“The DAMA and the TSMIT concession recognise the difficulties in sourcing skilled workers in a number of occupations in the Goldfields. We encourage employers to make continued use of the DAMA to access a broader range of workers, noting the TSMIT increase.”
Eight Goldfields local government authorities are part of the Goldfields DAMA, which includes 145 occupations and runs until April 2025.
More information on the TSMIT can be found here: News page (homeaffairs.gov.au) and more information on the DAMA, including the TSMIT and other concessions, can be found on the City’s website DAMA Concessions » City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder (ckb.wa.gov.au).
Goldfields DAMA Overview
The Goldfields DAMA provides employers with a specific tool to sponsor skilled overseas workers in specified industries in our region that are currently experiencing critical skill and labour shortages.
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