The Business Council has called for the Albanese government to split its industrial relations bill to make way for less controversial changes such as wage theft, after claiming other “radical” rules for labour hire and casuals will drive up the cost of living.
He stressed the bill’s new definitions for casuals, employees, independent contractors and “employee like” gig workers amounted to a major rewrite of the workplace landscape. The 284-page bill includes requirements for labour hire to get paid at least the same rate as directly hired employees, rights for regular casuals to convert to permanent, minimum pay for gig workers, and sham contracting provisions.
The Coalition, with the support of the crossbench, has already succeeded in delaying the bill until at least February next year, spoiling Mr Burke’s hopes for it to pass before Christmas.