近日，莫里森政府决定在COVID-19大流行期间通过提供更多的签证灵活性，来增加对澳大利亚旅游业和酒店业的支持。
政府将取消旅游业和酒店业雇用的学生签证持有人的现有工作时间上限。之前对于学签持有者的工作小时是每两周限制40小时。
除此之外，如果临时签证持有者是在旅游和酒店业工作，可以有机会获得有效期12个月的408类短期签证（COVID-19大流行事件类别）。该决定已经将旅游和酒店业增加到农业，食品加工，医疗保健，老年护理，残疾户李和儿童护理这些之前已经是紧缺行业的行列当中。
当前在旅游和酒店业工作或者打算在这行业工作的临时签证持有者将能够在签证到期前的90天之前申请408签证的COVID-19类别，然后可以在澳洲停留最多12个月。
The Morrison Government is increasing support for Australia’s tourism and hospitality sector by providing more visa flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
The Government will remove existing work hour caps for Student Visa holders employed in the tourism and hospitality sector. A 40 hour fortnightly limit previously applied during study periods.
In addition, temporary visa holders will be able to access the 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event Visa for a period of 12 months if they work in the tourism and hospitality sector. This decision adds tourism and hospitality to the critical sectors of agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care and child care for eligibility for this visa subclass.
Temporary visa holders working in, or intending to work in, tourism and hospitality will be able to apply for the 408 COVID-19 Visa up to 90 days before their existing visa expires and then remain in Australia for up to 12 additional months.
移民，公民，移民服务和多元文化事务部长声称这些变化是基于莫里森政府对于这些有益于疫情经济恢复的行业的支持。移民部长霍克表示，旅游和酒店业雇佣了超过半百万的澳大利亚人，这些变化将有利于补充现有劳动力，保持行业业务正常运转，并创造就业机会。
The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs said these changes build on the Morrison Government’s support for sectors that are critical to our economic recovery.
“Government has listened carefully to the States, Territories and industry and is introducing these changes to support critical sectors for Australia’s COVID-19 economic recovery,” Minister Hawke said.
“Tourism and hospitality employs more than half a million Australians and these changes will allow them to supplement their existing workforce to keep their businesses running in addition to generating employment through a job multiplier effect,” he said.
