No more limiting working hours for international students in the hospitality and tourism area!

Home Affairs gives us great news! 🗣 about a new announcement from the Australian government to help international students.

These are the following 👀:

The government removed the existing limit for student visa holders employed in the hospitality and tourism industries.

There are about 300,000 students in Australia 🇦🇺 who face the 40-hour fortnightly limit on their working hours while studying, but to boost the tourism and hospitality sectors, the government removed this existing limit for student visa holders working in the hospitality area.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke says the measure will help fill staff gaps in these sectors, and will also support the recovery of Australia's economy.

"The government has listened carefully to states, territories and industry and is introducing these changes to support sectors critical to Australia's COVID-19 economic recovery," he said.

The decision comes after international students, including those working in these sectors, are among those most affected by the pandemic closures last year and what goes beyond it.

A survey conducted by Unions NSW last year found that many were struggling to make the end of the month and were forced to take jobs with cash to stay afloat.

Hawke said the tourism and hospitality sectors employ more than half a million Australians and these changes will help businesses complement their existing workforce, which he described as "generating jobs through an employment multiplier effect."

Hospitality and tourism will now also be classified as critical industries along with other sectors such as agriculture, food processing, health care, disability care and childcare with similar assignments.

To a separate extent, Hawke says he will include veterinarians on the List of Priority Qualified Occupations for skills deemed critical to Australia's economic recovery.

The immigration minister has also noted additional changes in visa configuration.

"I continue to receive feedback and advice from a variety of industries and will make more announcements about temporary visa flexibility measures and priority skills in the near future," he said.

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* Note: The information presented is effective on the day of publication but readers should consult the Home Affairs Department website for the latest updates.