Skilled labour shortage bites down on print

According to Hagop Tchamkertenian, Printing Industries, national policy and research manager, the printing industry is suffering an acute shortage of workers to fill jobs. Industry occupations including binding and finishing, screen printing, printing machinists, small offset printers and graphic pre-press tradespeople are all currently listed in a Printing Industry Trends report as areas suffering from skilled labour shortages.

To combat this problem, a Federal Parliamentary Committee on Migration is conducting an inquiry into eligibility requirements and monitoring, enforcement and reporting arrangements for temporary business visas. It is seeking input from printing companies on the issues confronting employers when hiring temporary or permanent overseas labour.

Printing Industries has praised the inquiry. “With the official unemployment rate at a 30-year low, labour availability has become a serious industry issue,” said Tchamkertenian, who will make a submission to the Committee.

He encourages all printing industry participants to contribute with their feedback and experience in sponsoring overseas workers through temporary business visas and labour agreements.

“I urge all participants who have either sponsored workers from overseas or are thinking of doing so in the future … to provide comments and suggestions on how the existing arrangements can be improved,” he said.

To contribute to this inquiry, email Hagop Tchamkertenian
by Friday 19 January.