Workplace laws victory
LABOR WINS SUPPORT FOR IR SHAKE-UP
LABOR is poised to make the most extensive changes to workplace relations laws in nearly two decades after the government secured the support of a crucial crossbench senator.
Employment Minister Tony Burke revealed he had struck a deal on the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill with independent ACT Senator David Pocock, who holds the balance of power in the upper house.
The announcement on Sunday morning follows a late-night meeting in which Senator Pocock secured concessions in exchange for his support.
Labor will adopt the recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry into the Bill including changing the definition of a small business that can be excluded from multiemployer bargaining from one that employs 15 people to one that employs 20.
It will also be easier for a business with 50 employees or fewer to opt out of multi-employer bargaining by giving them a stronger ability to argue to the Fair Work Commission they should be excluded.
The responsible minister will have the power to decide which occupations can take part in the low-paid bargaining stream, which was designed for workers in industries such as aged care and cleaning.
The government will also set up a new statutory advisory committee to review welfare payments and provide independent advice before every federal budget on the structural challenges to economic inclusion for Australia’s poorest people.
Senator Pocock had said he would wait to receive the report from the parliamentary inquiry before deciding whether to support the Bill.
He said on Sunday the amended legislation was now “substantially different”, noting it included additional safeguards for both businesses and low-paid workers.
“Taken together, all of these measures will strike the right balance between ensuring people start receiving long overdue wage rises, maintaining productivity and protecting the most vulnerable in our communities,” he said.
The expansion of multiemployer bargaining – which essentially makes it easier for workers at different companies within one industry to band together to call for better pay and conditions – has been the most contentious element of the legislation.
Under the “single interest” stream, workers will be able to negotiate a single enterprise agreement to cover different workplaces, as long as a majority of employees at each company involved agree to do so.
The Fair Work Commission will have to determine that workers have a common interest before allowing them to take part in multi-employer bargaining.
Employer groups and the Coalition have argued the multi-employer bargaining provisions would lead to widespread strikes and high levels of industrial conflict.