Enterprise Migration Agreements

On 10 May 2011, the government announced the implementation of Enterprise Migration Agreements (EMAs) —a new temporary migration initiative to help address the skill needs of the resources sector.

EMAs are a custom-designed, project-wide migration arrangement for large scale resource projects. EMAs will help ensure peak workforce needs are met, easing capacity constraints and ensuring economic and employment benefits are realised.

Why is the government introducing EMAs for the resources sector?

The National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce recommended the introduction of EMAs in July 2010.

The taskforce, chaired by the Hon Gary Gray MP, then Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia, was convened in late 2009 to help address the need for more than 70 000 additional skilled workers on major resources projects over the next five years.

The taskforce provided its final report in July 2010. The report canvassed a range of recommendations across workforce planning and workforce participation, education and training, and community infrastructure. The government agreed to all 31 recommendations of the report on 15 March 2011.

The taskforce noted that migration is one tool for meeting Australia's future skills needs and recommended the introduction of EMAs.

What is an EMA and how does it work?

An EMA will be negotiated with either the project owner or prime contractor of a resources project. The EMA will act as an umbrella migration arrangement for the project.

EMAs are available to resource projects with capital expenditure of more than two billion dollars and with a peak workforce of more than 1500 workers.

The EMA will set out the number of overseas workers who can be engaged on the project, why they are required, and the training commitments that must be met by the project owner.

Contracting employers, with the endorsement of the EMA holder, will sign template labour agreements that sit under the EMA. This ensures that the direct employer of the workers will be responsible for the sponsorship obligations in relation to overseas workers.

EMA submission process

For further information about EMA submissions, please email the department.
Email: ema@immi.gov.au

More information

More information is available.
See:
Fact Sheet 48a – Enterprise Migration Agreements
National Resource Sector Employment Taskforce Report – Recommendations 4.1 and 4.2
Booklet 9 – Subclass 457 program
Labour Agreements