# Obligation to ensure equivalent terms and conditions of employment—Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa and Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa

> reg-2.79 — as in force on 2026-06-01 — F2026C00497 · Compilation No. 287 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026C00497/latest/text

2.79 Obligation to ensure equivalent terms and conditions of employment—
          Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, Subclass 482 (Skills in
          Demand) visa and Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa
          (1) Subject to subregulation (1A):
               (a) this regulation applies to a person who is or was a standard business
                   sponsor of a primary sponsored person if:
                     (i) the primary sponsored person holds a Subclass 457 (Temporary Work
                         (Skilled)) visa, a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa or a Subclass
                         482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa; or
                    (ii) the last substantive visa held by the primary sponsored person was a
                         Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, a Subclass 482 (Skills
                         in Demand) visa or a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa;
                         and
               (b) this regulation applies to a person who is or was a party to a work
                   agreement (other than a Minister), and who is or was an approved work
                   sponsor of a primary sponsored person, if:
                     (i) the primary sponsored person holds a Subclass 457 (Temporary Work
                         (Skilled)) visa, a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa or a Subclass
                         482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa; or
                    (ii) the last substantive visa held by the primary sponsored person was a
                         Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, a Subclass 482 (Skills
                         in Demand) visa or a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa.
        (1A) This regulation does not apply to a standard business sponsor of a primary
             sponsored person if:
               (a) either:
                     (i) the primary sponsored person holds a Subclass 457 (Temporary Work
                         (Skilled)) visa, a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa or a Subclass
                         482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa; or
                    (ii) the last substantive visa held by the primary sponsored person was a
                         Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, a Subclass 482 (Skills
                         in Demand) visa or a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa;
                         and
              (b) the annual earnings of the primary sponsored person are equal to or greater
                   than the amount specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for
                   this paragraph.
          (3) The person must ensure that:
               (a) if:
                     (i) the person is mentioned in paragraph (1)(a); and
                    (ii) the nomination by the person of an occupation in which the primary
                         sponsored person is identified was made before 18 March 2018;









                     the terms and conditions of employment provided to the primary sponsored
                     person are:
                     (iii) no less favourable than the terms and conditions of employment that
                           the Minister was satisfied, under paragraph 2.72(10)(c) (as in force
                           before 18 March 2018), were no less favourable than the terms and
                           conditions of employment that are provided, or would be provided, to
                           an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident; and
                     (iv) no less favourable than the terms and conditions of employment that
                           the person provides, or would provide, to an Australian citizen or an
                           Australian permanent resident to perform equivalent work in the
                           person’s workplace at the same location; or
                 (b) if the person is mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) and the nomination by the
                     person of an occupation in which the primary sponsored person is
                     identified was made on or after 18 March 2018:
                       (i) the primary sponsored person’s annual earnings in relation to the
                           occupation are not less than the annual earnings the person indicated,
                           at the time the nomination was approved, would be provided to the
                           primary sponsored person for the occupation; and
                      (ii) the primary sponsored person’s earnings in relation to the occupation
                           are not less than the earnings an Australian citizen or an Australian
                           permanent resident earns or would earn for performing equivalent
                           work in the same workplace at the same location; and
                     (iii) the employment conditions (other than in relation to earnings) that
                           apply to the primary sponsored person are no less favourable than
                           those that apply, or would apply, to an Australian citizen or an
                           Australian permanent resident performing equivalent work at the
                           same location; or
                 (e) if the person is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b), the terms and conditions of
                     employment provided to the primary sponsored person are no less
                     favourable than the terms and conditions of employment set out in the
                     work agreement.
          (4) The obligations mentioned in subregulation (3):
               (a) start to apply on:
                     (i) the day on which the Minister approves a nomination by the person in
                         which the primary sponsored person is identified; or
                   (iii) if the primary sponsored person does not hold a Subclass 457
                         (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand)
                         visa or a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa on the day the
                         Minister approves the nomination—the day on which the primary
                         sponsored person is granted the visa on the basis of being identified in
                         an approved nomination by the person; and
               (b) end on the earlier of:
                     (i) the day on which the primary sponsored person is granted a further
                         substantive visa that:









                               (A) is not a Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, a
                                   Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa or a Subclass 482
                                   (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa; and
                               (B) is in effect; and
                      (ii) the day on which the primary sponsored person ceases employment
                           with the person.
