Special Report: Calls for migration reform

SOME of the Western Australia's top companies have cut or redeployed staff in recent weeks.

WESTERN Australian businesses may still have critical skills shortages to deal with, but in the current climate of uncertainty many employers are also looking for legal advice to potentially downsize their workforce.

BARELY known in Western Australia five years ago, the '457 temporary long-stay business visa' became part of the everyday language for WA businesses, as sourcing overseas workers became crucial for local operators' growth and survival.

THE skills shortage has been an important element in the changes to Perth's social fabric during the past five years.

MIGRATION is such a broad ranging and complex issue that it needs to be concentrated in a single arm of government, the recent WA Business News migration forum was told.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore has been in negotiations for 18 months to get its labour agreement approved, which is the first step to be granted the right to employ overseas workers on 457 visas.

TAPPING into the unemployed local working age population is an option being explored by Western Australian businesses to ease the skills shortage.

WHILE apprenticeship programs have been a focus for the government in Western Australia during the past few years, the sector is still suffering from a participation shortfall.