CONTRACT labour hire firm Workforce Solutions has rejected claims by the recruitment industry lobby group that federal government changes to the 457 visa scheme had thrown the sector into disarray. Workforce Solutions, which describes itself as Australia’s only recruitment company accredited to provide temporary skilled overseas workers under the 457 visa scheme, said the changes were workable and provided for the training of Australian workers to alleviate the skills shortage. Managing director Jeff Bradtke said his contract labour hire firm was achieving results that some of its larger rivals could not match. “I am delighted to be able to announce that we have been assisting a number of major Australian companies – including Woodside and BHP Billiton – in securing skilled labour from offshore,” he said. “Assisting these large Australian companies is evidence that there are gaps in the skilled labour market that we are able to fill.” Mr Bradtke rejected claims made by the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association in October that the regulations had “thrown…the on-hire sector into disarray”. “I believe we have shown ourselves to be flexible and agile in coming to terms with the new requirements, rather than adopting the attitude that it’s all just too hard,” he said. Workforce Solutions general manager Bill Gamack said that, despite the protests of some rival recruiters, Workforce Solutions believed the new regulations around 457 visas were appropriate.