The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 has been passed by parliament today.
The Bill amends workplace relations laws relating to bargaining, job security, gender equity, compliance and enforcement, workplace conditions and protections and workplace relations institutions.
However, Minerals Council of Australia Chief Executive Officer Tania Constable said the reintroduction of multi-employer bargaining into the Australian workplace relations regime will have negative consequences on investment, productivity, economic growth, job security and wages for small or larger businesses across Australia.
“The Government’s amendments, which confine multi-employer agreements to ‘reasonably comparable’ businesses, carve-out civil construction, allow more time to conclude enterprise agreements, and stop parties from unreasonably preventing workplace votes, do partially address industry concerns,” Ms Constable said.
“However, these amendments do not change the fundamental problems the bill will create in reducing flexibility and productivity, increasing risk for investors, and making it harder for mining companies to create jobs.
“There is no case for extending multi-employer bargaining, particularly for sectors such as mining, where current arrangements are delivering high paying jobs.”
Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA) CEO Steve Knott AM said it is on the Albanese Government to ensure the passing of the bill doesn’t wreak havoc on the economy.
“The impacts of the Government’s radical IR reforms will be a slow burn, most likely reaching boiling point in late 2023 and 2024.
“With rising inflation, electricity costs and interest rates, the last thing businesses need is to be dragged into other companies’ IR disputes via multi-employer bargaining or have the Fair Work Commission (FWC) make their decisions for them.
“This is a recipe for lower productivity, less competition, higher inflation and more strikes. It won’t create a single job, but it will drive away investment and cost future employment opportunities.
“Unlike the IR changes passed this morning, we hope the Government will both consult with, and properly consider the views of business, for the so-called ‘second tranche’ of reforms mooted for 2023.”
Amendments will be made to existing legislation once the Bill is formally accepted by the Governor-General (Royal Assent).