Unrestricted work hours for student visa holders

Overview

For the time being, both current students and new student arrivals are permitted to work more than 40 hours per week in any industry and do so before starting their course of study. The maximum number of hours a student visa holder can work will be reconsidered and once more be regulated after 30 June 2023.

Australia is fighting a hard battle against unemployment. The government is trying to come with various strategies to help combat this crisis. They’re raising immigration cap and now, unrestricted hours of work for student visa holders. It is a temporary arrangement to help the solve the workforce shortage crisis and will be reviewed and revised by the Australian government later, after 30th June 2023.

What is restricted work hours for students?

Generally, under normal circumstances student visa holders can only work for 40 hours in a fortnight, ie 14 days. This cap is there to ensure that students focus on their education while they do a side hustle for some financial aid and work experiences. The number of hours a Student visa holder works, ensures that Students focus on obtaining a quality Australian education and qualification.

Some guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs for Students:

Even while there is flexibility in the number of hours you can work, you must still maintain a balance between your obligations to your studies and your job.

Students must still:
• maintain their course enrolment
• ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
• ensure satisfactory course progress.

Holders of student visas who discontinue attending classes, cancel their enrolment, or do not make adequate academic progress may be in violation of their visa terms.

Additionally, employers must keep up with Australian workplace regulations. Australian employment law accords all employees the same rights, including foreign workers and international students.

Concerns regarding this decision:

The International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) chief executive Phil Honeywood said the removal of this restriction would equate to a full semester of many international students being under family pressure to work over 100 hours a week not just to support themselves, but to send money back home.
“The national regulators are no doubt keeping a watchful eye on the academic progress implications of students being compromised by paid employment pressures,” said Honeywood.

A heavier workload placed on international students to make up for the labour shortage would put additional strain on students already struggling to meet university deadlines. International students already put in about 40 hours per week at school. Additionally, there are worries that working longer hours can increase the chance of COVID-19 infection in students.