the regular economic shocks and financial burdens that arise from insecure, casual and short-term employment. The state should support schemes such as these that provide support to vulnerable and casual workers. The recommendations proposed would be a good first step towards cleaning up the industry and assisting it to find a sustainable role in industrial relations Australia’s framework. While most of the heavy lifting on the issue of insecure work will need to be done by the Commonwealth Government, the recommendations are focused on the role that the Victorian Government can play in protecting Victorian workers from exploitation. Attachment A – Selected comments from labour hire workers AMWU Survey Q: How did you become a labour hire worker? work A: “Made redundant. Only available” (Respondent ID 4175117955, Manufacturing) Q: Thinking about working as a labour hire, do you have any comments about your experience or issues you would like to raise? client company (name wants everyone casual so they can pick you A: removed) “The up and drop you whenever it suits them. My company (name does whatever removed) they are 4173078218, Oil and Gas) told.” (Respondent ID A: recently completed my apprenticeship with BMA, they then said I had to leave “I and come back as a contractor. I have been here almost 5 years now and am only working as a casual labour hire, and not being offered anything permanent, I have more pads outs and tickets than most permanent contractors and I still only get two or three month contracts at a time, sometimes even a matter of (Respondent ID weeks.” 4174103523, Mining) A: hire should be on the same rate as the permanent “Labour employees.” (Respondent ID 4132569770, Mining) A: year I was bullied, victimised, assaulted and made a scapegoat by (name “Last because I was labour (Respondent ID 4120388438, Construction) removed) hire” A: of labour hire effects many families all over Australia and it is a stress “Insecurity that can and should be easily (Respondent ID 4139816967, Manufacturing) avoided” A: hire are parasitic companies with bugger all regard for employees, they “Labour bring little to nothing to the table and are just swiping money away for no real service,
the regular economic shocks and financial burdens that arise from insecure, casual and short-term employment. The state should support schemes such as these that provide support to vulnerable and casual workers. The recommendations proposed would be a good first step towards cleaning up the industry and assisting it to find a sustainable role in Australia’s industrial relations framework. While most of the heavy lifting on the issue of insecure work will need to be done by the Commonwealth Government, the recommendations are focused on the role that the Victorian Government can play in protecting Victorian workers from exploitation. Attachment A – Selected comments from labour hire workers AMWU Survey Q: How did you become a labour hire worker? A: “Made redundant. Only work available” (Respondent ID 4175117955, Manufacturing) Q: Thinking about working as a labour hire, do you have any comments about your experience or issues you would like to raise? A: “The client company (name removed) wants everyone casual so they can pick you up and drop you whenever it suits them. My company (name removed) does whatever they are told.” (Respondent ID 4173078218, Oil and Gas) A: “I recently completed my apprenticeship with BMA, they then said I had to leave and come back as a contractor. I have been here almost 5 years now and am only working as a casual labour hire, and not being offered anything permanent, I have more pads outs and tickets than most permanent contractors and I still only get two or three month contracts at a time, sometimes even a matter of weeks.” (Respondent ID 4174103523, Mining) A: “Labour hire should be on the same rate as the permanent employees.” (Respondent ID 4132569770, Mining) A: “Last year I was bullied, victimised, assaulted and made a scapegoat by (name removed) because I was labour hire” (Respondent ID 4120388438, Construction) A: “Insecurity of labour hire effects many families all over Australia and it is a stress that can and should be easily avoided” (Respondent ID 4139816967, Manufacturing) A: “Labour hire are parasitic companies with bugger all regard for employees, they bring little to nothing to the table and are just swiping money away for no real service,
Submission-AMWU.docx