Hire young Australians and only Australians – that is practically the new order from the federal government stopping the country ’ s top food chains from hiring foreign workers on 457 visas .

Fast food businesses will no longer be able to bring in foreign workers on 457 visas .

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton has ended the Fast Food Industry Labour Agreement which saw hundreds of foreign workers take jobs at fast food outlets across Australia , an agreement that was made

during the Gilliard Government .

“ Australian workers , particularly young Australians , must be given priority ,” Mr Dutton said .

“ The Turnbull Government is committed to ensuring that career pathways are available for young Australians .

Majority of the foreign workers on the 457 visas come here from India , the UK , China , the Philippines and Ireland .

In a post at the immigration website , the government claimed the move will “ end Labor ’ s bad deal for workers ” with the minister saying the 457 visa programme spiraled out of control during the time of the previous Labor government .

“ The Coalition Government is committed to implementing reforms that strengthen Australia ’ s skilled migration programme to ensure overseas workers supplement rather than provide a substitute for Australian workers .

“ Businesses can still make requests under normal labour agreement arrangements to ensure that exceptional circumstances can be considered .

“ Genuine business needs for overseas workers which contribute to economic

growth will still be considered .”

According to a recent Daily Telegraph report , there are 318 fast food outlets nation-wide who have employed overseas workers .

There are believed to be 285 at McDonalds , 88 at KFC and 74 at Hungry Jacks , who will be made to leave Australia once their agreements expire unless their employers present a case for them to stay , the report stated .

It is understood the number of 457 visas handed out has been stripped back by the Coalition government from 110,000 in 2013 to 90,000 at the present .

The move will affect thousands of workers working on public holidays and weekends for both permanent and casual employees in the identified sectors such as hospitality , restaurant and retail . It also affects the times that penalty rates apply for working late nights or early mornings in the restaurant and fast food sector .

The changes do not apply yet and the debate rages between government and workers ’ union .

“ Naku dagdag pahirap iyan ,” says a Pinoy worker who works on weekends and late night shifts at a Sydney restaurant . Unions do not want to see any changes to wages . “ The Government has been sitting on its hands throughout these entire proceedings over the last few years , and we think it owes the Australian public an explanation of where it stands ,” United Voice ’ s national secretary Jo Schofield said in an ABC report .

“ Both in relation to the broader issue of the cuts that will affect 700,000 people , but also what steps it intends to take to protect people from those harsh and unfair cuts .”

She is calling on the Government to put forward a submission to the Fair Work Commission to protect existing pay agreements .