Work Choices inquiry to consider call for ombudsman role
Published Monday, 06 November, 2006 at 04:59 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The inquiry into the federal Government’s Work Choices industrial laws has been told a workplace rights advocate or ombudsman-style position needs to be created to help ripped off workers, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said today.
The workplace rights officer would advise workers and promote fair industrial practices as well as investigating illegal activities by employers in the event the High Court challenge to Canberra’s Work Choices failed.
“The position is needed because the Industrial Relations Commission inquiry into Work Choices has been provided with evidence of numerous cases of workers being ripped off and being sacked without reason,” Mr Mickel said.
“Disturbingly, evidence to the Commission shows employees are increasingly reticent to discuss important works issues such as safety and pay and conditions for fear of being branded a trouble maker and sacked on the spot.
“An advocate working for employees and their families is needed because all the cards are stacked in the favour of employers at the moment.”
The Queensland Government this week proposed the position be established in its final submission to the inquiry.
Mr Mickel said scrapping unfair dismissal and union right of entry laws and pushing unfair AWAs on to unsuspecting workers had scared employees into signing agreements which targeted existing entitlements and conditions such as overtime, penalty rates, and public holiday pay.
“Information revealed to the inquiry showed that scrapping the unfair dismissal provisions has raised fears of unscrupulous employers ripping off foreign workers to undercut local Aussie employees,” he said.
“Prior to Work Choices, there would have been more options available to deal with such a situation, including the ability to make an unfair dismissal claim, protection of award conditions under the no disadvantage test, and more effective right of entry provisions.
“Workers in regional and rural areas particularly have fared poorly under Work Choices because jobs are harder to come by in the bush and information isn’t as readily accessible in many cases.
“That’s why an advocate for workers needs to be appointed. The economy is performing well at the moment but when the eventual downturn happens then workers everywhere will find their jobs being undercut and pay and conditions under fire by these harsh Work Choices laws.”
Media contacts: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
November 6, 2006
The workplace rights officer would advise workers and promote fair industrial practices as well as investigating illegal activities by employers in the event the High Court challenge to Canberra’s Work Choices failed.
“The position is needed because the Industrial Relations Commission inquiry into Work Choices has been provided with evidence of numerous cases of workers being ripped off and being sacked without reason,” Mr Mickel said.
“Disturbingly, evidence to the Commission shows employees are increasingly reticent to discuss important works issues such as safety and pay and conditions for fear of being branded a trouble maker and sacked on the spot.
“An advocate working for employees and their families is needed because all the cards are stacked in the favour of employers at the moment.”
The Queensland Government this week proposed the position be established in its final submission to the inquiry.
Mr Mickel said scrapping unfair dismissal and union right of entry laws and pushing unfair AWAs on to unsuspecting workers had scared employees into signing agreements which targeted existing entitlements and conditions such as overtime, penalty rates, and public holiday pay.
“Information revealed to the inquiry showed that scrapping the unfair dismissal provisions has raised fears of unscrupulous employers ripping off foreign workers to undercut local Aussie employees,” he said.
“Prior to Work Choices, there would have been more options available to deal with such a situation, including the ability to make an unfair dismissal claim, protection of award conditions under the no disadvantage test, and more effective right of entry provisions.
“Workers in regional and rural areas particularly have fared poorly under Work Choices because jobs are harder to come by in the bush and information isn’t as readily accessible in many cases.
“That’s why an advocate for workers needs to be appointed. The economy is performing well at the moment but when the eventual downturn happens then workers everywhere will find their jobs being undercut and pay and conditions under fire by these harsh Work Choices laws.”
Media contacts: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
November 6, 2006