Departments hit back at visa rort claims

Government departments have rejected claims of widespread rorting of the foreign worker visa scheme.

In a submission to a Greens-Labor initiated inquiry into the program, six departments and the Fair Work Ombudsman say just one per cent of temporary work sponsors were issued formal infringement notices in the past two years to the end of March.

During the period 4000 sponsors were monitored with two-thirds meeting their obligations, the immigration department figures show.