Australian industrial and business communities have called on the parliament to reject the newly introduced workplace relations bill, saying it will negatively affect most enterprises and workers nationwide.
The legislation is the third tranche of a reform initiated by the Labor government and brings about various significant changes to businesses’ hiring and employment practices.
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This loophole refers to the situation when an employer uses labour-hire workers with cheaper pay rates to force their regular staff to accept a lower remuneration than in their enterprise agreements.
In addition, the legislation proposed to provide a minimum wage for workers in the gig economy.
Other areas of change included stronger workplace protections for survivors of family or domestic violence, introducing an offence and increasing penalties for industrial manslaughter, and better support for workers who have post-traumatic stress disorder.
Industrial Community Calls on Parliament to Reject the Bill
Innes Willox, the CEO of the national employer association Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), urged the parliament to vote down the legislation due to its “flawed” nature.
“It is crucial that parliament properly scrutinises the changes and isn’t misguided by efforts to downplay the adverse impacts of the changes or their significance.”
Mr. Willox also alleged that the changes, including the same job, same pay policy and the alteration of the definition of casual employees, would make it harder for employers to hire workers and limit their abilities to offer flexible working arrangements for casual staff.
“Make no mistake, there will be vast numbers of casual employees who will have their livelihoods put a risk by these changes if they see the light of day,” he added.
“Any contention that these changes won’t lead to major disruption in the labour market and to detrimental impacts on workers and employees is fanciful.”
Business Groups Say New Workplace Reform Is the Most Radical
