A new fast-track Senate inquiry will report in May on the new Cole enforcement legislation's provisions, while the inquiry into independent contracting and labour hire will begin public hearings next week.
The Howard Government is facing a right-wing backlash against its plans for a unitary IR system, with the Institute of Public Affairs telling the HR Nicholls Society on the weekend that the move has dangers, particularly when the pendulum swings back in Labor's favour.
The Government is inclined towards taking minimum wage determination away from the AIRC, while a discussion paper will be released this week on the independent contractors legislation promised in last year's election campaign, Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews said yesterday.
The Mitcham Frankston motorway project joint venturers, in their agreements certified today by the AIRC, have won significant rostering flexibility that is not available under the Victorian construction industry pattern agreement, but unions say the company is paying for the increased flexibility.
In its first full bench decision on matters pertaining since Electrolux, the AIRC has found a raft of provisions covering salary packaging, labour hire, jump-up rates, trade union training leave, union right of entry and union recognition pertain to the employment relationship, holding only two provisions - on payroll deduction of union dues and a recruitment-style right of entry clause - do not.
In a decision sure to make waves in Canberra, the AIRC has found the looming legislative removal of unfair dismissal rights and severance pay for small business employees is a reduction in conditions to be weighed up when considering whether a proposed agreement disadvantages employees.
Despite the Federal Government pressuring them to wait until its Cole bill is law, a group of Victorian builders has this morning reached an in-principle agreement with the CFMEU on a new three-year deal that the union will now seek to flow-on throughout the industry.
While the "permanent casual" remains a feature of the Australian workforce, the latest HILDA survey shows that for a large percentage of casual employees their status is transitional, with 42.2% moving on to non-casual employment within two years.
