Introduction
Multiculturalism can be determined as a situation or practice in which people from different racial and cultural backgrounds have equal opportunities and rights in the society and everyone is regarded as important. According to several authors such as Elias, Mansouri & Sweid (2021), multiculturalism is actually a way through which the societies and the business organizations deal with the cultural diversity at the community and national level. According to Wilding & Nunn (2018), multiculturalism predicts that the society get many benefits from an increased diversity through harmonious coexistence of various cultures. The main principles of multiculturalism are fair access, valuing diversity and encouraging participation. Multiculturalism helps to encourage open communication which creates collaboration, team work and understanding among all employees and staff. Apart from this, multiculturalism and workplace diversity demonstrates respect, acceptance and tolerance which improves organizational culture and decreases various conflicts within a workplace.
The Australian Government is highly committed to ensure that all people in Australia have equal opportunity to participate actively in the Australian society and maintain all of their traditions (aph.gov.au., 2022). The aim of this paper is to analyse why Australia linked multiculturalism and diversity to immigration. The impacts of immigration on diversity and multiculturalism in today’s workplace will also be discussed in the following paper.
Discussion
During late 20th century, the ideas and concepts of equality and cultural diversity gained much popularity as the response to emerging trend of globalization and international migration. Beyond migration pattern, to accommodate citizenship and diversity, diaspora of identity and culture has translated into the needs for a more sensitive policy approach. According to different authors such as Leviston et al., (2020), multiculturalism and diversity in Australia is highly reflected by multicultural composition of the people of this country, its immigration policy, equality before laws of all citizens, its prohibition and strict rules on discrimination in the workplace as well as different cultural policies that help to promote workplace diversity. The immigration policy of Australia has evolved for the last sixty-five years from attracting more migrant people, especially from the UK, for a certain purpose to increase the population of this country to an increased focus on attracting more skilled and temporary workers and migrants for eliminating the shortage of skilled labours (Chand & Tung, 2019). By 1945, Australian government became more interested to increase the population of this country for stimulating the “post-war economic development” as well as increasing the number of people who can defend their country in another war. It is the main intention of the government to increase population by one percent/year through immigration for achieving 2% of annual growth rate. The success in multiculturalism is being predicated on the Australian society adopting immigration as the most important nation-building project. In some of the countries, immigration occurs without any planning. But in Australia, a well-ordered and effective immigration program ensures acceptance of cultural diversity from the people. it has also underpinned Australian society’s cultural generosity (Udah & Singh, 2019).
According to McAllister (2018), all citizens of Australia have a responsibility to support basic principles and structures of their societies which guarantee them equality and freedom and also enable diversity and multiculturalism in the Australian society to flourish. Fairness for all people ensures that all people in Australia are provided with equal opportunity and treatment. Social equity helps the people to make a huge contribution to economic, political and social life of the Australia. The Australian government also encouraged the refugees and migrants to involve in the equitable society. A program “Diverse Australia” launched by the government focuses more on several issues of racism and intolerance (aph.gov.au., 2022). Australia focuses on the migration policies for the improvement of its labour market and for this reason, different measures are being taken so that the migrant people can achieve the economic independence and gain employment opportunity. Therefore, immigration in Australia can help to improve the condition of its labour market and foster multiculturalism and diversity in the workplace. For the above reasons, Australia linked multiculturalism and diversity to immigration.
Cultural diversity and multiculturalism that accompany migration helps to bring new perspectives, experiences and ideas to be shared and exchanged through an intercultural encounter (Thomas et al., 2020). Immigration allows for hybrid, innovative and creative cultural practice to emerge. It also helps to create societal openness to several changes and differences. A society with a large amount of migrant people is in different ways has connected to different parts of this world through diasporic and migrant networks and practices. Immigration practices have contributed to different transformational changes, especially to the Australian economy. Income tax collected from the migrant people has contributed to almost eighty million dollars into Australian economy. The economic and workplace diversity in Australia are mainly characterised by several practices of immigration and the migrant people also help in contributing to and generating overseas labour mobility and it has made several positive impacts on the economic condition of Australia (Poot, 2018). Moreover, economic profits through international and domestic business has been developed through the roles of immigrants that also made this relationship stronger.
There are various advantages of the immigration policy that has made positive effects on the productivity rate. Immigration has also made remarkable contributions to increased skills and labour market. Immigrant people bring different ideas and perspectives from home countries that help business organizations to reshape and rethink their strategies for taking benefits of a new market opportunity (Laurence, Schmid & Hewstone, 2018). This leads the business organizations to adopt and develop technologies that use a more efficient strategy and process. Recently, several government reports indicate that how immigration policies can improve the effectiveness of innovation strategies at the organizational, national and industrial level. Studies have found that existence of immigrant people with an advanced university qualification helps to provide future prosperity and competitiveness (Ozgen, Nijkamp & Poot, 2017). It also helps to encourage research and enable an innovation and entrepreneur activities. The skilled immigration programs, with the skills and knowledge of the returning expatriates can be determined as significantly important for improving the profit and productivity rate of the business organizations. Cultural diversity and multiculturalism can help to retain more talents and cultural diversity is considered as the most vital factor to build an ideology of respect between employees and organization and cooperation (Evans & Suklun, 2017). It cannot be denied that immigration policies of Australia enhance employee engagement that helps to build trust and employee engagement is positive for an organization and it may lead to a greater collaboration, loyalty and motivation. Therefore, immigration in Australia makes several impacts on diversity and multiculturalism in today’s workplace.
Conclusion Immigration and Multiculturalism in Australia:
From the above paper it can be concluded that Australia is always open for skilled immigrants and international students and for this reason, the Australian government has introduced different immigration policies that can help them to gain employment and other opportunities in this country. Australia is considered as a multicultural society in which all people from different racial and ethnic groups experience equal rights and opportunities. The above paper has examined the relationship between diversity and immigration in the Australian society and evaluating all information it can be stated that immigration policies have helped this country to address the shortage in training and education programs of Australia which are quite hard to the labour market needs in a more competitive and changing economy. Immigration policies in this country also make several positive impacts on the workplace diversity. Therefore, it can be deduced that multiculturalism has helped to develop a peaceful society and learn from various cultures.
References
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