From penalty rates rises to new ways to get a pay rise - and why being 'casual' will be more secure: Labor's BIG changes to the workplace - and what it means for YOUR job and salary
- ALP will overhaul industrial relations laws if it wins next year's federal election
- Aims to combat rising inequality and wages that haven't increased in years
- Last year's penalty rate cuts would be reversed and casuals properly defined
- Labour hire staff would be paid the same as internal workers by law
- Efforts to close gender pay gap and unions to bargain across whole industries
- Employers would be jailed for up to 20 years if a worker was killed on the job
Labor will drastically overhaul Australia's industrial relations system in an attempt to break workers out of stagnating wages if Bill Shorten wins the federal election.
The party's National Conference endorsed sweeping changes to how workers bargain with their bosses in a bid to to prevent exploitation.
Income inequality was also firmly in the Labor's crosshairs, with proposed laws to slash the gender pay gap and force labour hire staff to be paid the same as internal ones.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (pictured at the conference with his wife Chloe) declared current laws were no longer working after changes to the economy and Australia needed a 'new system set up for the 2020s'
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten declared current laws were no longer working after changes to the economy and Australia needed a 'new system set up for the 2020s'.
'It doesn't work for people who have little or no bargaining power. It doesn't work for people at the end or the bottom of the supply chain,' he said on Wednesday.
Share this article
'We are seeing growth without wages growth. We see rising corporate profits and witness stagnating workers' wages.'
The former union boss said even workers in higher-paid industries with enterprise bargaining agreements between them and employers were getting a raw deal.
'They are... now at risk of being left stranded because the system now rewards wage-cutting,' he said.
A group shot of delegates at the National Conference where they endorsed sweeping changes to how workers bargain with their bosses in a bid to to prevent exploitation
Wage growth against inflation has crashed since the end of the mining boom, in some years even effectively giving workers a pay cut.
The after-tax income of an average household fell from $1,029 a week in 2013-14, to $1,009 a week in 2015-16, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Double-time on Sundays and public holidays
A Labor government would reverse last year's cuts to Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for food, hospitality, pharmacy, and retail workers.
The Coalition, with backing from the Fair Work Commission, cut these rates by up to 50 per cent over three years after demands from business.
These would be reinstated to their previous levels, which were as high as double time, within the first 100 days of Labor coming to power.
A Labor government would reverse last year's cuts to Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for food, hospitality, pharmacy, and retail workers
Better protections for casuals and labour hire in the workplace
The election platform aimed to improve pay and conditions for the millions who work as casual staff or are hired by a staffing agency instead of by a company directly.
More workers than ever are employed on this basis as they have fewer protections and can be hired and fired much easier.
There are also independent contractors who work for themselves and are employed under terms agreed to on an ad-hoc basis, but often are exploited as essentially full time staff but with no benefits.
Labor promised to introduce a definition for casual workers, but didn't explain what that would entail and how it would help workers.
New laws would force employers to pay anyone employed by a labour hire firm the same amount as staff hired directly by the business.
'While there are workers who like the flexibility that labour hire provides, too often it's used purely as a mechanism to pay workers less, or to deprive them of conditions and security,' Mr Shorten said.
A labour hire licencing scheme would be introduced to prevent vulnerable workers from being exploited.
Policies to slash the 16% wage gap between men and women
Labor will change legislation and increase the powers of the Fair Work Commission to reduce the 16 per cent wage disparity between men and women.
Fair Work is able to make equal pay orders where there is a demonstrated gap between male and female workers in an industry.
However, laws would be changed to go further in recognition of female-dominated industries like childcare, aged care, and early childhood education.
'One of the key drivers of the gap is the fact work in traditionally female-dominated industries is undervalued,' shadow minister for women Tanya Plibersek said.
Labor will change legislation and increase the powers of the Fair Work Commission to reduce the 16 per cent wage disparity between men and women
'The average woman working in the most feminised industries, such as healthcare, social assistance and education, is paid around $30,000 less than the average man working in the most male-dominated industries such as mining and construction.'
The Fair Work act would be amended to make closing the pay gap an objective, to be considered in all pay decisions in the country.
Labor would also appoint a second Fair Work Commission president to head up a pay equity panel to rule on equal pay cases.
Back to the 1980s! Unions to negotiate pays for entire industries
In a major concession to demands of big unions like the CFMEU, unions would be able to negotiate agreements across, in theory, entire industries.
Under present laws, deals must be struck with individual businesses that are not under enterprise agreements.
Shadow industrial relations minister Brendan O'Connor said many workers didn't have adequate representation and ability to fight for a fair pay deal.
Big unions unions would be able to negotiate agreements across, in theory, entire industries
'Workers need and deserve a seat at the bargaining table, but too many are not afforded that right,' he said.
'That's why a Shorten Labor government will improve multi-employer bargaining, particularly for those workers, so it is an effective pathway for fair outcomes.
'Where enterprise bargaining has failed or is failing, multi-employer bargaining should be another available option.'
This could also be extended beyond low-paid industries, as demanded by the transport union which represents airline staff.
The vaguely-defined policy was a back-room compromise to stronger union demands after days of talks with union officials.
Little was revealed about how far the policy would go or whether laws would be relaxed to make it easier for workers to go on strike.
This 'alarmed' employer groups who wanted to know more details about how they and the wider economy would be affected.
'Labor needs to urgently clarify if the proposals are just for the low-paid stream or the economy as a whole,' Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said.
'Because, as things stand, they have left the door open to rampant industrial disputation across the entire Australian economy.'
Labor has repeated refused to elaborate on its industrial relations policy and Mr Shorten on Wednesday said the party would have 'more to say' later.
Shaun Burns, 48, and Will Finch, 29, were killed in workplace accidents, which under a Labor proposal could have led to their employers being jailed for up to 20 years
Jail for 20 years and $20 million fines for 'industrial manslaughter'
Labor would significantly beef up penalties for companies and managers where a worker was killed on the job due to negligence.
A national crime of industrial manslaughter would be introduced that provided for harsh jail terms for employers and managers if a death was their fault.
Queensland laws would be used as a starting point, which include jail terms of up to 20 years for individuals and a $10 million fine for the company.
'All workers in Australia deserve to know that there are consequences to negligent and reckless conduct which may lead – or tragically does lead – to a death,' the policy read.
'Strong industrial manslaughter laws and penalties which act as a real deterrent are an essential element of providing safer workplaces.'
Maritime Union Western Australian branch secretary Christy Cain welcomed the policy in a speech to delegates, shouting 'kill a worker, go to jail'.
