The ACTU today lodged its reply submission to the Fair Work Australia review of the Modern Awards system, which employers are using to seek the reduction or removal of penalty rates to workers in the fast food, retail and hospitality industries.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said workers in those industries were among the lowest paid and most Award-dependent in Australia.
“For some workers in these industries, their wage equates to less than half the average weekly Australian wage, so a cut to penalty rates would send many into poverty,” she said.
“Businesses in these industries are at their busiest after hours and on weekend, when other Australians are enjoying their leisure time.
“This is time that these workers give up to go to work, so that others can go shopping, or enjoy a meal with friends and family.
“For employers to argue that weekends and evenings are no longer defined as ‘after hours’ is flawed. Weekends are still weekends when it comes to sporting events, weddings, parties and long weekends away and evenings are still evenings when children have homework to do, or there is a family birthday to celebrate.
“Workers in industries like food, retail and hospitality miss out on many such events and occasions, working unsociable hours because it is often all that is available, or because they need the penalty rates just to make ends meet.
“Penalty rates have existed for decades to compensate award-reliant workers for the effects that working unsociable hours have on health, family and social life. Taking away their penalty rates would make life simply unaffordable for many of them.”
The ACTU’s submission to Fair Work Australia argues strongly against any attempt to cut or reduce penalty rates.
No comments:
Post a Comment