Let’s support the Closing Loopholes Bill
The fate of the legislation aimed at safeguarding the rights of workers now rests with the Senate after Australia after the Closing Loopholes Bill passed the House of Representatives today.
The Union movement is urging its members and supporters to "send the crossbench a Christmas card" to "help us get (the Bill) through the Senate and make it law".
To support the Closing Loopholes legislation, click here
This Bill, focused on stopping the underpayment of workers, also shuts off the loopholes some employers use to undercut wages, conditions, and safety for Australian workers.
Yesterday, the Federal Government and the ACTU welcomed amendments, including the addition of super theft into the wage theft provisions.
“Like wage theft, failure to pay superannuation is rife, with recent Super Members’ Council modelling showing that on average approximately 2.8 million people are underpaid a total of $4.7 billion in superannuation each year,” the ACTU said in a statement.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Tony Burke said yesterday that he was keen to get the Bill finalised to avoid some senators and business groups calling for further delays. He said staggered start times for parts of the legislation are necessary to allow the FWC and Fair Work Ombudsman to prepare for changes in the law.
The Closing Loopholes Act:
• Criminalises wage theft
• Introduces minimum standards for workers in the gig economy
• Closes the forced permanent casual loophole
• Closes the labour hire loophole
Tell politicians that Reps matter!
The ACTU is also supporting the Bill because it supports the work of Reps in workplaces.
Reps are the voice for workers in their workplaces and they need to be protected. Empowered Reps help transform workplaces for the better.
The Closing Loopholes Bill introduces new protections for Reps so they can play their vital role without fearing unreasonable repercussions from their employer.
Too often these days, Reps are punished simply for acting as a voice for workers.
We need your help to get the Bill across the line. Send a Christmas card to a crossbench senator today so every politician understands what’s at stake. Click here.
In Tasmania, unionists are being encouraged to lobby their Senators to support the Bill.
In Tasmania, unionists are being encouraged to lobby their Senators to support the Bill, with the following message to members:
“This Christmas, Tasmanian workers aren’t asking for a miracle from Santa.
”They’re just asking for politicians to change our work laws so that loopholes are closed and wages keep up with the cost-of-living.
“We know how hard the cost-of-living is hitting workers. That’s why we need crossbench Senators like Jacqui Lambie and Tammy Tyrrell to vote for the Closing the Loopholes Bill.
”This vote is about choosing between working people and big businesses, like Qantas and mining companies, who want to shut down these new laws to protect their profits.”
Send a Christmas card to Jacqui and Tammy to tell them how crucial is it that this Bill is passed.
“Businesses have used legal loopholes to contract out work to labour hire to drive down wages and make jobs insecure. This Bill will stop businesses from using labour hire just to cut pay.
“Workers in the gig economy do not even get the minimum wage. This legislation gives hope to many gig and casual workers that they will have access to fairness and more security.
“Tragically, thousands of workers are injured, contract diseases or are killed at work in Australia every year. The Bill will save lives of tradies, will support frontline first responders, and will make all workplaces safer.
“Big business is always looking at ways of reducing their costs, and that is why they are exploiting loopholes.
“That's why it's the crossbench senators that can make a real difference by supporting this Bill.”