ACTU: ChAFTA concerns remain for workers despite new agreement.

Today’s announcements on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement show that despite the best efforts of the ALP the Turnbull government continues to dismiss the concerns of Australian workers and cares little about protecting jobs and professional standards. 

 

Whilst there has been significant and welcome movement on labour market testing for larger projects through IFA regulatory provisions, the agreement still presents the same problems with regards to all other 457 visa applicants. This means outside the IFAs there are still no mandatory requirements to test the local labour market first.  The clear result of the government’s refusal to move on this issue is that companies will be able to source workers from other countries without offering jobs to local citizens and residents. 

 

There are also serious concerns that the Turnbull government has refused to put in place proper and enforceable licensing requirements for workers such as electricians, who may come to work in Australia without the proper skills and qualifications to work in fair, safe and equitable conditions.    

 

The requirement for licensing under this deal goes some way to recognising that there is a major problem in this area but without proper and well resourced government compliance mechanisms the arrangements are not adequately enforceable and will leave migrant workers open to exploitation and undermine the safety of the Australian public.

 

We welcome the Labor party achieving an outcome for temporary workers wages and conditions.  Where unions have bargained for and secured decent pay rates through enterprise bargaining these changes will help ensure migrant workers are paid decently and comparably with Australian workers but again, with many temporary migrant workers being employed in enterprises that refuse to bargain and attempt to prevent workers from accessing their union, the government has fallen far short of what is actually required in this area.  

 

While we appreciate the efforts of Penny Wong and Bill Shorten to fix a bad deal, the proposed changes simply do not go don’t go far enough. 

 

Australian Unions will be holding town hall debates with government MPs around the country next week.  We urge Bill Shorten and Senator Wong to continue their participation in this debate and hear our communities concerns.

Quote attributable to Ged Kearney:

 

“Australian Unions will continue to fight for local jobs now and into the future.  We do not accept that trade deals mean trading away jobs here in Australia.  The Build a Better Future Campaign is hosting town hall debates on this issue because people have said they are concerned about what it all means for them and their families.  Today’s announcements simply mean there are new elements to explain and discuss which we will do in communities from Darwin to Launceston, Penrith to Perth over the next few weeks.”