Essential Skills Visa Pathway

The Essential Skills or Labour Agreement Stream is one of the pathways within the Skills in Demand Visa program.

The government is considering the Essential Skills pathway or Labour Agreement Stream in the context of the care and support economy, which has become essential to the quality of Australian life.

The 482 TSS Labour Agreement Stream will be renamed the Skills in Demand Labour Agreement Stream. Previously, the Australian Government referred to this as the Essential Skills Pathway in its Migration Strategy. However, it now appears that the Essential Skills pathway will be renamed the Labour Agreement stream.

Criteria:

It's a pathway for lower-paid workers with essential skills
This visa might include individuals earning a salary under the TSMIT, which is currently AU$ 73,150 a year
The Skills in Demand Labour Agreement Stream is likely to have similarities with the current Labour Agreement visas

Key features for the Essential Skills/ Labour Agreement Stream visa include: 

The Skills in Demand Labour Agreement Stream will provide a four-year work visa.
Visa holders will have the ability to move between sponsors with 180 days to find a new sponsor.
The time spent with any approved employer will count toward permanent residence requirements. This will avoid the clock resetting with each employer.
The Skills in Demand Labour Agreement Stream will have a clear path to permanent residency in Australia.
There will be a public register of sponsors to assist individuals in finding a new sponsor.