Australia cracks down on Indian students over work-hour violations
What's the story
Indian students in Australia are now facing heightened scrutiny for flouting work-hour restrictions. The spotlight is mainly on those crossing the 48-hour fortnightly work limit imposed by Australian authorities. This has resulted in businesses employing these students being inspected and, in some cases, even facing visa cancelation for failing to comply with work-hour rules. A recently-viral visa cancelation letter highlighted a case where a student was deported for working between 50-60 hours weekly.
Regulatory confusion
Misunderstanding of work-hour rules leads to violations
Rajkumar Vadlakonda, General Secretary of the Indian Cultural Association of Victoria, disclosed that many students unknowingly jeopardize their visas by working too many hours as cab drivers or delivery personnel. A Warangal student explained that jobs like delivery driving come under an Australian Business Number (ABN), resulting in misunderstandings about part-time work status. This has caused some students to temporarily stop driving for aggregators until clarity is received.
Compliance urged
Students advised to adhere to visa norms
Adhi Reddy, founder of the Adelaide Telangana Association, emphasized on following visa norms. He advised students to restrict their work to 20 hours weekly while studying, saying "Students need to understand that they will have enough opportunities to earn after completing their course." This advice comes as around 40 businesses employing students in Melbourne and nearby areas were recently checked for work-hour compliance.
Warning issued
Student associations caution members against violating visa conditions
The heightened inspections have led student associations to warn their members against violating visa conditions. Students are being urged to follow regulations to not risk their education and residency in Australia. This comes in light of the recent increase in checks by Australian authorities on Indian students working beyond the prescribed 48 hours every fortnight.