Australia's government has invited backpackers and students to seek work in the country."Backpackers" are mostly younger people who travel in a simple way and do not spend very much money.The move is an effort to fill critical workforce shortages as Australia faces an outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday said his government would not require backpackers or students arriving in the next several weeks to pay the usual $453 visa cost.He also urged such visitors to seek work as they travel around the country."Come on down now because you wanted to come to Australia," Morrison said during a televised press conference.He added that the backpackers and students could seek work in agriculture, hospitality and "so many other parts of the economy" that lack enough workers.The announcement comes as Morrison faces criticism at the beginning of an election year.Critics say he has not done well in dealing with the Omicron outbreak.Australia is experiencing record numbers of new infections and deaths.
