Casual workers, truckies and rideshare drivers will be better protected under workplace reforms that also include a right to disconnect after hours.
With the support of the government, Greens and key crossbenchers, the measures will form part of broader reforms to industrial relations law aimed at closing loopholes used by employers to undermine pay and working conditions.
Unreasonable contact from employers outside of paid hours will be curbed under the laws, with workers able to tap the Fair Work Commission if they’re hassled, which could ultimately result in a fine.
There will be carve-outs for bosses calling employees about changes to their rostered shifts and protections against frivolous and vexatious claims.
Unions will also be able to enter workplaces without notice to investigate underpayments if the legislation passes.
The laws were about helping workers make ends meet, Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor said.
“Too many of these casual workers have got a 30-year mortgage, but they can be terminated in one hour,” he told ABC TV.
“Or worse, they cannot get a mortgage because they do not have permanent work.”
Labor’s suite of industrial relations reforms is set to pass the Senate before being rubber-stamped in the lower house.
The laws heralded the end of people forced to stay in casual employment by providing a pathway to permanent work and introduced world-leading minimum standards for gig workers, Employment Minister Tony Burke said.
Independent senators David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe are supporting the tranche of reforms alongside the Greens after securing a number of amendments.
The coalition has slammed the changes, saying they’ll stifle flexibility and put undue burdens and costs onto small businesses.
“None of the measures are designed to improve productivity, jobs, growth and investment which are the ingredients of a successful economy,” shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash said.
The opposition has also demanded more detail on the right to disconnect.
“Workers already have legal protections against unreasonable working hours,” Senator Cash said.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie also expressed doubts about how the right to disconnect would work, warning it was a last minute surprise that hadn’t been properly scrutinised.
The Tasmanian also questioned how the right would apply to existing contracts and enterprise agreements.
“We are going into really uncertain economic times this year and I just worry about that extra red tape for businesses,” she told Sky News.
Business groups have warned the overall package of workplace changes will add unnecessary costs and complexity to their operations.
This post was originally published on Michael West.
