CHINESE companies will be able to bring skilled workers to Australia to plug labour shortages on big infrastructure projects under the new trade deal.
The deal, released by the Abbott government on Monday, says Chinese-owned companies will be able to "negotiate similarly to Australian business, increased labour flexibilities for specific projects".
The arrangements will apply to projects valued above $150 million under the deal negotiated between the two countries. Projects will involve the employment of foreign workers on 457 work visas.
Firms will be required to conduct market testing to ensure there are genuine skill shortages. Chinese workers are to be paid Australian wages and conditions.
Trade Minister Andrew Robb has been at pains to insist any concessions on labour arrangements in the China deal will not trigger a flood of cheap Chinese workers into Australia.
However, unions on Monday warned the China deal could be a "fatal blow" to the local labour market.
ACTU president Ged Kearney said the effect on Australian jobs would be "disastrous" if the agreement allowed "Chinese contractors on Australian projects to nominate Chinese workers for visas without having to advertise for jobs locally".
Maritime Union of Australia Western Australian branch secretary Christy Cain hit out at the visa concession and described the measure as "an absolute disgrace".
"These (mineral) resources are ours and those of the Australians paying taxes for all their lives that are now seeing workshops closing and car manufacturing dying," Mr Cain said.
"I don't blame the Chinese, they are saying you want us to invest in Australia then we will bring our own labour over. But it's ludicrous. What is happening to our Australian values?"
Mr Robb in a briefing in Canberra said the government was largely enshrining existing work visa arrangements in the deal. He said any Australian or Chinese-owned firm seeking to fill jobs in Australia would have to ensure there were no local workers who could do the job.
Australian Institute of Marine & Power Engineers senior national organiser Andrew Williamson said while the union was waiting to assess the finer details of the visa arrangements it would "need some convincing that they (IFAs) are not a 'wolf in sheep's clothing'?".
