Free trade agreement: Removal of electrician skills assessment in China-Australia deal endangers community, union says

Extract from ABC News

By political reporter Eric Tlozek

Posted about 5 hours ago

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Removing a requirement to assess the skills of Chinese electricians on temporary work visas will endanger the Australian community, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) says.

The Government agreed to remove the mandatory skills assessment requirement for Chinese workers in 10 occupations, including electricians, as part of its new free trade agreement with China.
Workers will still have to show evidence of their skills and training before being granted a visa, the Government said.

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But Allen Hicks from the ETU said the agreement could compromise Australia's high safety standards.
"For the Federal Government to come out and waive that under a free trade agreement, without any consultation with unions or employers, is an absolute disgrace," he said.
"It's going to create significant workplace dangers, not only just for electricians, but all those people who use electricity."
Mr Hicks said the mandatory assessment requirement was designed to protect people from unsafe electrical work, and that the change would create significant workplace dangers.
"If they aren't aware of the requirements that are in place in this country and they do something wrong, then you don't get a second chance with electricity and that's the significant, concerning part," he said.
"Countries, particularly Asian countries, don't have the adequate skill sets to meet the rigorous demands here in Australia."

The Government said the change aligned China with countries like the United States and Japan.