THE Federal Government’s revised outline of proposed new workplace relations reforms has failed to address fundamental concerns about fairness and balance, the Catholic Church’s employment relations body said last week.
Prime Minister John Howard released a detailed outline of its new industrial reforms system, WorkChoices, on October 9.
In a briefing last month on the Government’s proposals to reform workplace relations, the Australian Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (ACCER) identified five major areas of concern – the minimum wage, unfair dismissals, minimum conditions, workplace bargaining, and the role of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
ACCER executive officer John Ryan said last week the setting of the minimum wage, if based on the single adult worker, would impact on low paid families.
Mr Ryan is concerned that new employees in workplaces, especially the industrially vulnerable and young workers without bargaining power, could be particularly affected.
He said ACCER would be examining the Government’s proposals in further detail and a final assessment would be made after the legislation has been tabled in Parliament.
