The Productivity Commission says bargaining laws need to be further loosened to allow for deals that may leave some workers worse off than the minimum.
The Productivity Commission says the Albanese government’s reforms to bargaining laws were not enough to fix problems in the system and the rules need to further loosen to allow for deals that may leave some workers worse off than the minimum.
Although the Albanese government simplified the test at the end of last year, the commission found it “did not significantly alter” the BOOT and the test retained “many of the complexities and problems” including by requiring each employee on an agreement be better off than the award minimum. It flagged union consultation clauses that acted as a de facto “veto” on changes to business models, highlighting the case of NSW Trains where unions disputed the rollout of the new inter-city fleet where CCTV may have replaced the role of guards.
But the Australian Council of Trade Unions slammed the report as “anti-worker” and accused the commission of wanting “to strip workers of most of the rights they have in awards – then allow agreements to take away even more”. “Notably, there is no equivalent to the better off overall test in award changes, so it is possible that under this new model, the FWC could make a change to awards that leads to gains for many workers even if some are made worse off. In fact, even a net employee benefit is not required,” it said.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Upskilling workers and slashing tariffs: key takeaways from the Productivity Commission reportFive-yearly report devotes section to threat of climate crisis and suggests five ‘reform pillars’ to boost sluggish productivity growth
Read more »
From Medicare to migration: Are these reforms key to solving Australia’s 'productivity predicament'?Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned that without a lift to Australia's productivity levels, Australians will work two hours more a week just to maintain living standards.
Read more »
Australians $4,600 worse off due to flagging productivityProductivity growth of just 1.1 per cent in the last decade has left each Australian $4,600 worse off as of 2020, with the Productivity Commission's latest report urging the government to make sweeping changes across the economy.
Read more »
Shake up tax, migration, work and energy to lift productivity: reportThe Productivity Commission has called for an overhaul of the tax and immigration systems, an expansion of Labor’s emissions cap and challenged looser wage-setting laws.
Read more »
Industry wage agreements slow down productivity: RBA paperA Reserve Bank paper has warned that industry agreements - like multi-employer deals - align with less poaching of employees to more productive firms and slow down productivity and wages.
Read more »
Australia going backwards unless we lift ‘our sagging national productivity’Sky News host Peta Credlin says unless Australia does something drastic to lift “our sagging national productivity”, we will go backwards. Ms Credlin’s remarks come after the 1000-page report by the Productivity Commission was released today. “They contain recommendations designed to prompt a national conversation about where we are heading, what reform is needed and how we might pay our way as a country into the future,” Ms Credlin said. “The report … outlines 71 recommendations or action including migration reform, more user pays and education particularly universities creating a more dynamic economy.”
Read more »