In an inquiry designed to look at the very serious problems of worker exploitation and insecurity, the Ai Group has submitted that changes to federal workplace laws are needed to the available protection of lessen workers in insecure arrangements.22ACCI similarly demands that the ability to regulate the engagement of contractors, labour hire and casual workers through enterprise bargaining be stripped from workers, and such enterprise agreement clauses be deemed illegal.23 Such claims are designed to further encourage the use of insecure work arrangements by employers to shift risk onto workers and undermine workplace laws and conditions. The NUW believes the expansion of workplace democracy, rather than its restriction, is required to empower workers in insecure work arrangements and ensure more dignity at work. The Case for a State System While some employer groups claim the application of a State-based licensing system is problematic24, the NUW submits that such a system would not in and of itself provide any unusual challenges. Many laws and regulations that business is currently obliged to comply with are confined to the jurisdiction of one State, among them workers compensation, child protection and long service leave. Moreover, the issue of labour hire licensing is now actively being considered at various levels across the country. Two other states (Queensland and South Australia) are currently examining the feasibility of State-based licensing schemes through their own labour hire inquiries. A number of jurisdictions are recognising that decisive action needs to be taken to limit the scourge of insecure work, with labour hire licensing actively considered as a way to begin addressing the problem. While a similar recognition by the Senate Education and Employment References Committee is welcome, neither major party has adopted the Committee’s recommendations. Victoria cannot wait for a federal response that may never come. The Response in Other Jurisdictions As has been recognised in submissions to this Inquiry, licensing schemes for or similar constraints on labour providers operate in a number of jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea. of Ai Group, p. 15. 22Submissions of ACCI, p.25. 23Submissions example, see p.24 of Ai Group submissions. 24For
In an inquiry designed to look at the very serious problems of worker exploitation and insecurity, the Ai Group has submitted that changes to federal workplace laws are needed to lessen the available protection of workers in insecure arrangements.22ACCI similarly demands that the ability to regulate the engagement of contractors, labour hire and casual workers through enterprise bargaining be stripped from workers, and such enterprise agreement clauses be deemed illegal.23 Such claims are designed to further encourage the use of insecure work arrangements by employers to shift risk onto workers and undermine workplace laws and conditions. The NUW believes the expansion of workplace democracy, rather than its restriction, is required to empower workers in insecure work arrangements and ensure more dignity at work. The Case for a State System While some employer groups claim the application of a State-based licensing system is problematic24, the NUW submits that such a system would not in and of itself provide any unusual challenges. Many laws and regulations that business is currently obliged to comply with are confined to the jurisdiction of one State, among them workers compensation, child protection and long service leave. Moreover, the issue of labour hire licensing is now actively being considered at various levels across the country. Two other states (Queensland and South Australia) are currently examining the feasibility of State-based licensing schemes through their own labour hire inquiries. A number of jurisdictions are recognising that decisive action needs to be taken to limit the scourge of insecure work, with labour hire licensing actively considered as a way to begin addressing the problem. While a similar recognition by the Senate Education and Employment References Committee is welcome, neither major party has adopted the Committee’s recommendations. Victoria cannot wait for a federal response that may never come. The Response in Other Jurisdictions As has been recognised in submissions to this Inquiry, licensing schemes for or similar constraints on labour providers operate in a number of jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea. 22Submissions of Ai Group, p. 15. 23Submissions of ACCI, p.25. 24For example, see p.24 of Ai Group submissions.
Supplementary-submission-NUW.docx