Is Australia Immigration Point System Arbitrary?

The much talked about Australia Immigration Point System is usually hailed the world over for revolutionizing the way skilled migrants are selected, and for streamlining the visa application process for Australia, but there are some observers who claim that that the system is arbitrary and presents several difficulties.

There seems to be merit in both the sides of the story. But before we delve deep into the issue of the weaknesses and strengths of the system, we will talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the system, and try to figure out what exactly is Australia Immigration Point System, and how points are given under the different key parameters.

The Australia Immigration Point System is basically one arm of the nation’s border control measures. The migration scheme regulates the variety and volume of the employees shifting to the nation, even while as per the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), the same is specially molded to target the migrants who possess skills or exceptional abilities that will make handy contributions to the national economy of Australia, and to fill labour scarcities.

Over the previous 15 years, the nation’s non-humanitarian migration strategy has changed from its initial “populate or perish” focus to one looking for migrants who will make a particular contribution to the national economy.

Points Distribution Key Parameters

With a view to make the cut for a chain of Australian Skilled Visas, it is mandatory that the aspirants satisfy a points-based evaluation. Points are doled-out in many classes.

Age Requirements

It is required that the candidates are below 50 years. Those from 25 to 32 years inevitably start with 50% of the needed 60 points. And the aspirants from 45 to 49 begin with zero.

Proficiency in English

Every candidate must illustrate a basic proficiency in the English language. However, they are only given points in case their language abilities are considered “superior” or “proficient”.

Qualifications & Experience

The rest of the points to get the minimum 60 are doled-out for certain qualifications and employment backgrounds – obtained either in the Kangaroo Land or abroad – or some other factors comprising tertiary education and whether the spouse of a person fulfills certain conditions. For instance, a doctorate from an establishment, recognized by Canberra, means 20 points, for example.

The would-be residents may also receive points in case they have earlier done a job in the Kangaroo Land, or in case they have enrolled for a study course in certain specified regions of the nation, like metropolitan regions with not-too-high population increase.

Vocation

For some specific visa subcategories, sponsorship by a recruiter/firm or family member or nomination by the administration is needed.

In case a person does not have sponsorship from a job-provider or firm, it is compulsory that their line-of-finds mention on a sanctioned list. For every profession, there is a limit on the figure of the petitions that may be admitted.

Australia Immigration Point System–Strengths & Weaknesses

Coming back to the key issue under discussion, employing Australia Immigration Point System to choose the best and brightest global workers is hypothetically good from a policy viewpoint, allegedly. The same sets clear and flawless standards for admission, and permits the administration to supervise economic migration into the areas essential for the long-term economic development.

But, the system is not minus its difficulties, claim some critics. They allege that the Australia Immigration Point System is nothing but a crude measure that does not account for the “soft” qualities wanted by the recruiters/firms, like, for example, communication abilities, the aptitude to learn on the job, or flexibility.

Echoing a somewhat similar feeling, the nation’s Productivity Commission reportedly maintains that what is branded as “skilled” on the Skilled Occupation List is nothing but “arbitrary”. The same raises some questions on the capability of the administration to truthfully project scarcities in the labour market, in the process, resulting in either under-employment or over-employment in some specific regions.