SAME JOB, SAME PAY: TIME TO TACKLE UNFAIR LABOUR HIRE IN WYNDHAM

Federal Labor’s announcement to establish new laws to tackle unfair labour hire practices is great news for thousands of young people in Wyndham who have only known insecure work.

I have heard numerous horror stories from locals who have lived the stress of waiting for a text to say that they have a day’s work.

Worse, I have heard stories of the anxiety associated when that text message doesn’t come through and people hit the pillow with the stress of bills and the increased cost of living keeping them awake for hours.

The anxiety is not just on the person waiting for that text to come through – it extends further into the household with added stress on parents to assist paying the bills – all while their sons and daughters are being exploited.

Even worse still, I am also hearing stories from locals about being sacked and offered their jobs back at reduced pay on a labour hire arrangement.

These horror stories have to stop - too many labour hire workers are being treated like second class citizens, with lower wages, worse conditions and no job security.

This is unacceptable.

The fact is that local workers, particularly our young people, are being used to undermine permanent pay and conditions, and it must stop.

That is why a Shorten Labor Government will legislate to ensure that workers employed through a labour hire company will receive the same pay and conditions as people employed directly.

Labor’s policy is based on the simple principle: if you are doing the same job, you should get the same pay.

A Shorten Labor Government will consult with labour hire companies, host employers, unions and other stakeholders on the legislative scheme and transitional arrangements.

This policy will not affect small business using labour hire companies to source workers on a temporary basis or to deliver specialist skills.

“Our local young people deserve to have permanent, full time opportunities in our economy, not to be used to undermine wages and conditions” said Ms Ryan.

WEDNESDAY, 18 JULY 2018

Authorised by Noah Carroll, ALP, Canberra