My friend has sponsored his wife to live here for the last two years. She is on a partner visa while she awaits PR.
She hasn't worked during this time saying that it is too hard to get a job without PR.
Is it really that difficult or impossible to get a job? I see many a travellers and students working in hospitality. So I can't really understand.
This. My English GF had a partner visa and had no trouble getting work.
Travelers and students are almost certainly been paid peanuts.
They have no rights and most don't even know what the proper rate is.
While it is pretty clear from recent media this is true in practice, she would have the rights under the appropriate award. Most casual rates for hospitality or retail are $20/hr+ so it may not be a great income, but it can be pretty reasonable.
Yes, they do have rights…
but realistically, if she pulls out the "rights" card, it's highly unlikely they'll even hire her. There's so many other people like students willing to take those jobs who either don't know their rights or aren't willing to complain.
It's difficult, but just need to keep trying and not let the above be a demotivating factor.
depend on level of English, altitude, connection and look.
Restaurant, charity donation collection, factory, fruit picking …
Ugly people don't get jobs :(?
It's exactly the opposite.
Good looking people - everyone wants to give one.
Legally, she can work as much as she likes. A genuine Partner Visa holder does not have any limitations in relation to working hours.
But given that the same Visa holders are sometimes less proficient in English and the Australian ways of life, employers would be less inclined to take such applicants on board regardless of their Visa status.
Against the law to be judgmental in this way? Sure. But it happens, and nobody can really stop it.
Against the law to be judgmental in this way? Sure.
Don't be so sure.
Almost every job I've encountered has essential selection criteria that encompasses professional & interpersonal communication skills. A perfectly reasonable argument could be made that these are an important skill set for most roles.
That said, this doesn't just apply to migrants either, some of the barely literate domestic applicants I've interviewed get culled for exactly the same reason! ;)
Just agreeing with KaptnKaos.
A partner visa has no limitations with regards to gainful employment, pretty much the same (in terms of employment opportunities) as a holder of PR status.
If her two years are up immigration will come and check that they have an ongoing relationship and she can get PR visa.
Why does she need to find a job, if you cant get one get an abn Nd make one… Surely she has skills or could learn an easy trade such as cleaning or washing Windows. Then once she is big enough she can employ another partner visa person.
Edit: before someone flames my comment, her partner could get the abn.
There's plenty of work out there, depends what you're willing to do and what you're willing to accept being paid. Restaurants, catering, cafes, cleaning, shops etc. always need staff. I sponsored my wife as a partner on my PR application and she had no problem finding work. She wasn't happy about a lot of the work she was having to, and some her employers in her earlier jobs were a bit naughty in how much they paid her, but after a few years you make connections, get to know people and eventually fall into something where you're paid legitimately and that you enjoy.
She's not going to stumble into any kind of a professional or office job on a partner visa, unless she has very specific qualifications and experience. If that's what she's angling for she's probably right.
Get her to PM me. I can get her a job picking bananas in Tully within 20 minutes.
Thanks guys, I thought I was being over cynical but it confirms what I suspected, she's just lazy.
So she's Eastern European, has basic English and technical qualifications along with a drivers license.
She can easily get a job, even if it is remedial, but would rather sit at home and do nothing.
Yeah, my cousin was on partner visa and she did get a job though menial. She didn't apply much designer job though, so I don't think it was hard to get, she just didn't try that much.
though i don't know about this specific situation
it may not be laziness but an unrealistic expectation of their own self worth
ie university graduate with no real world experience,
wont except entry level jobs (which is basically ie no data entry/filing) in their sector and expects to be paid more than a 10 year veteran in the field
What did she do before? That could be a factor in someone's attitude - for example, if she was in a relatively high position previously, her attitude could be "I'm not settling for that that kind of low paid job!" Or it could be the other way around as well where she thinks she's not good enough.
I hope I'm not the only one with this thought.. but was there any kind of expectation that your friend will be supporting her forever over here?
Exactly! Has OP even asked his friend why she isn't working?
it could be hard depending on the skills she has or wants to work in?
but service/retail jobs are plentiful
my wife was on a spouse visa and got a job via an agency then got made perm after 6 months
Usually, if the circumstances are subject to market forces, when somebody says they "cannot find something", it is likely that said person is just to picky because a certain qualifier has not been met. To present the whole picture, say : "cannot find something that is insert qualifier here:.
"It is too expensive to buy a (luxury) car."
"I don't even have enough money to eat (at 5 star restaurants everyday)."
I job a job after a few weeks of being here and had no issues with work. I am PR now and it makes no difference whatsoever.
No, she's just lazy. If she's on partner visa subclass 820, she can work: https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/801-