The job will change for millions of Australians.
Key points:
- Work will make job security a key goal of laws and processes around work
- Gig workers can get extended protections and “employee-like” conditions.
- There are few details about the proposals
With the election campaign focused on such disparate issues as the cost of living, China’s growing regional influence and transgender women playing sports, you may have missed it, but the incoming Labor government has promised a radical overhaul of an employment system that says it is leaving workers. downward.
“The changes will potentially be huge … potentially massive,” says Dr Giuseppe Carabetta, a tenured professor of labor law at the University of Sydney’s business school.
Dr. Giuseppe Carabetta sees important changes possible if the proposals are actually enacted. (ABC News: John Gunn)
“We are talking about everything from job security to the gender pay gap, addressing issues such as consecutive fixed – term contracts. [and] the business negotiation system “.
Working life / insecure life
Changes to increase security will be welcomed by Janine Saligari.
“It’s juggling,” he says, of the pressures of unsafe work.
Janine Saligari has endured long periods of unsafe work – with short-term contracts and temporary jobs. (ABC News: Darryl Torpy)
“It’s juggling over time, it’s juggling money and the household budget. It’s getting very stressful.”
She has spent most of her career in the community service sectors, assisting women of refugee origin, seeking asylum and migrants.
It has been gratifying, but the funding model has played a number of insecure roles: short-term contracts and “temporary” placements that did not have sick leave, holiday pay and retirement.
Now in a stable position doing programs at a neighborhood home in the Melbourne suburb of Chadstone, Ms. Saligari describes her job security as a relief from how she lived.
“It usually goes from paycheck to paycheck,” he says.
“Planning was just keeping a roof over your head. It’s really the basics. It’s just, ‘pay your kids, school.’ It’s just the basics.”
Ms. Saligari wants others to experience better job security, to be given the opportunity to plan their lives, not just try to align their next shifts.
“You can hope for a better car – a car! – or housing, education, future prospects. They could only live a safer life.”
IR largely unheard of
During the election campaign, labor relations were not a key issue.
The main element that has been discussed has been the cost of living, which has risen much faster than wages. This has led to a decrease in “real wages” (what you can buy with your money) and a drop in living standards.
The key remedy – and the turning point – was the support of then-opposition leader Anthony Albanese for raising the minimum wage to overcome the 5.1% rise in inflation.
“We think no one should go back,” he said.
Then-Finance Minister Simon Birmingham called the measure a “thought bubble” and questioned Mr Albanese’s economic credentials.
“He has put a figure out there without a shred of analysis or information to support his position,” he replied at the time.
But Labor’s plans to potentially empower millions of workers by adding a new approach to employment laws and increasing protections for those in the concert economy were not widely discussed.
New broom
New Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised changes to our labor relations system. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
The new government has pledged to enshrine safe work as a goal of the Fair Labor Act, the employment laws.
This affects the Fair Work Commission, which sets the minimum wage and listens to disputes between employees and employers.
If the change occurs, the commission will have to put job security at the center of its decision-making, along with existing factors such as productivity and economic growth.
Dr. Leonora Risse, a senior professor of economics at RMIT University, says that in recent decades there has been a “reduced share of profits and income flowing to employees,” with a higher proportion of employers, shareholders. and owners.
Economist Dr. Leonora Risse says there is currently no guarantee that higher productivity will flow into higher wages for workers. (Supplied.)
“And when it comes to employee wages, the link between productivity and wages has collapsed over time.”
This change has prompted the government to take a closer look at job security, how wages are set and what is happening to workers in the booming gig economy.
Workers pledged to set a minimum wage and conditions for concert workers and “employees.”
The creation of this new class of “employee-like” workers, such as contractors who depend on a particular business, could see that these workers get minimum conditions and collectively negotiate new rights.
But there is more.
“The ALP’s proposal to instill the principle of gender equity in the Fair Labor Act would be an important step in addressing the low wages of women-focused sectors, such as care for the elderly and care of children, “adds Dr. Risse.
Low wages in these sectors are a major contributor to the gender pay gap.
Nursery workers have low wage levels. But that could change if gender equity is enshrined in workplace laws. (AAP)
“The way the [commission] The current functions make it very difficult for these sectors to consider the case that they should be paid more “, argues Dr. Risse.
Changing the law to incorporate gender equity into the Fair Work Act could force the Fair Work Commission to consider why sectors deserve to be paid more: “including long-standing social norms that unfairly associate the women’s work and care work as of lesser value. “
No changes, please
Employers do not believe that the gig economy is widening job insecurity and argue that the changes would disrupt an industry that works for customers and workers.
Current challenges for companies include supply chain disruptions, rising labor and material costs, labor shortages, weak productivity growth and rising interest rates, according to Innes Willow, executive director of the company. Australian Industry Group Business Association.
Australian industry group CEO Innes Willox sees value in the flexibility created for workers by “on-demand” applications. (ABC News: Michael Barnett)
“In this environment, the last thing anyone needs is for the flexibility of the job market and the workplace to be drowned out by poorly designed new regulations,” he said.
The Ai Group represents most large “platform” companies with an on-demand employment model: where an application connects workers and tasks.
In a speech to the New South Wales Industrial Relations Society just before the election, Willlox said the rights that are commonly applied to employees do not fit into the way platform workers do the job. his job.
The key example was the convening of “three or 4 hours minimum” which is common in large agreements called “awards”.
“A platform worker can sign in to one or more apps waiting for a job while sitting on the couch at home,” he said.
“The whole notion of when to start and finish work for a platform worker is much more complex than for an employee.”
Uber work
Operators of platform entrepreneurs want to be part of any conversation about change.
Peter Scutt is co-founder and CEO of Mable, an online service that connects people with care and support workers.
Peter Scutt says Mable links small businesses to customers and does not set commissions. (ABC News: Dan Irvine)
“Mable is looking forward to having talks with the government about his safe work agenda,” he says.
“We are certainly interested in sharing some of the experience of operating a platform that allows small businesses to enter the care and support of the elderly sector.”
Mr. Scutt points to different models among platform companies, ranging from things like food delivery and transportation to tasks, specialized services, and home care.
Mable, he notes, does not set rates or terms of commitments.
“These are small businesses that relate directly to their customers,” he notes.
Without wanting to anticipate possible changes, Mr. Scutt describes any alteration to the objectives of the Fair Labor Act as “big business.”
“I think the workforce already enjoys the benefits of being able to work independently and the benefits of working with choice and control.”
Peter Scutt is looking forward to talks with the government about the proposed changes. (ABC News: Dan Irvine)
Unhappy workers
When your ability to feed depends on the work of an application’s opaque algorithms, any security enhancements are welcome.
Nabin Adhikari works by delivering food and groceries by car to Canberra. Rising cost of living and rising fuel prices have added to your usual labor problems of maintaining your vehicle and earning enough to live on.
Distributor Nabin Adhikari wants more job security and transparency on how he is paid. (ABC News: Mark Moore)
The lack of transparency in how it is paid makes it a daily struggle.
“We never know how they pay us,” he says.
“All companies are deciding what they pay us, there is no basis for deciding on a payment system for us.”
The inability to fight unfair dismissal or algorithmic punishments, where workers are penalized, blocked or obstructed in applications, is another problem for workers like Adhikari.
“If we receive the minimum (salary) payment, that will change a lot,” he says.
“Having a minimum wage is like potential income and it’s definitely a good thing to feel. And job security is comprehensive.”
Michael Kaine, national secretary of the Transportation Workers Union (TWU), has been fighting on behalf of members as applications have changed the way the car rental and delivery industries work.
TWU Secretary Michael Kaine on strike outside StarTrack delivery company west of Sydney in 2021. (ABC News: Cecilia Connell)
“Increasingly, what we are …