Church slams Howard's IR laws

In a briefing paper, the Australian Catholic Commission for Employment Relations queries key elements of the Government's proposals and says they could allow some employers to mistreat employees, lead to lower wages and impose unfair burdens on low-paid workers.

The commission advises Australia's Catholic bishops and assists the church and its agencies in their role as one of the nation's biggest employers. About 100,000 people work for the various arms of the church across the country.

The commission argues that the Government's changes to wage-fixing, which will see minimum wages fixed on the basis of the needs of a single adult worker rather than a "living wage" needed to support dependants, could have a serious effect on families.

It says the changes would mean that low-paid workers would be "placed in a position where they are required to carry a disproportionate burden of the requirement for economic adjustment". Social measures such as greater tax relief for people on low incomes and increases in family payments could reduce that burden.

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