Before the pandemic, nearly 300,000 young people from all over the world came to spend a year in Australia with a Work Holiday Visa. To convince these pvtists to come back, the country should do everything to improve their conditions of stay, pleads a tourism specialist on the site The Conversation.
Australia is missing pvtists. Not only in the tourism sector, but in all fields of activity where, before the health crisis, we used to use their labor force – in particular agriculture, construction or education – , notes Sarah Gardiner, tourism specialist at Griffith University Brisbane:
Each year more than 300,000 came to Australia. Their absence resulted in a shortfall of over AU $ 3.2 billion in 2020. It also resulted in labor shortages. The working holiday program has remained open throughout the pandemic to nationals of countries with which Australia has agreements, but because of the border closures visa applications fell 99.5%. ”
Urgently rethink the working holiday program
Australia will now have to compete with other destinations seeking to appeal to these precious vacationers ready to go and work abroad, especially young Europeans – pvtists from Germany, the UK and France represented a third of the total workforce of working holiday permit holders present in Australia in 2019.
“With the reopening of the borders, the Australian government must rethink its working holiday program. It should not only facilitate the return of young travelers, but also better understand their goals and expectations in terms of fulfilling working holidays ”, Sarah Gardiner believes.
Those who had previously obtained a visa but were unable to come to Australia due to the pandemic will be exempt from the additional fees to obtain a second visa. The government has also decided to relax certain rules, notably by allowing pvtistes to work for the same employer for twelve months (instead of a maximum of six months previously) – a measure made to serve the tourism and hospitality sector. .
But in the face of competition from other countries, relaxing the rules will not be enough, warns Sarah Gardiner:
In the past, pvtists worked in low-skilled, low-paying jobs. This experience was considered a ‘gap year’ between high school and university. But Generation Z has other aspirations. Many of these young people are concerned regarding getting their professional life started and taking a year off to travel abroad may seem less appealing to them. ”
Long-term benefits for Australia
Allowing pvtists to use their stay to acquire real skills and a first professional experience might significantly improve the country’s offer in this area, suggests Sarah Gardiner. The Australian government should also make travel to Australia more affordable by subsidizing airline tickets and making it easier for pvtists to find jobs. It would also be beneficial to provide itself with the means to verify that the employers of young people holding a working holiday permit comply with all the legal requirements in terms of remuneration and working conditions.
Studies show that many pvtists return to Australia following a first stay and develop a real attachment to the country. Improving their living conditions can thus have long-term benefits for the country. It’s not just regarding getting the tourism industry back on track:
These young people can help create new opportunities between Australia and other countries. We should make it a priority for 2022. ”
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