Casual conversion push welcome but overdue & Greens will amend in Senate: Bandt
Casual conversion push welcome but overdue & Greens will amend in Senate: Bandt
Greens employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today welcomed Labor’s adoption of Greens policy on casual conversion, but noted that casuals could have had the right to convert to permanent employment seven years ago, when Mr. Bandt introduced a bill in 2012 to enable casual and rolling contract employees to request a secure employment arrangement from their employer.
Mr Bandt said the Greens will move in the Senate to expand Labor’s bill so that it applies to workers on repeated short-term contracts and so that decisions of the Fair Work Commission can apply across workplaces and industries, not just to individual employees requesting conversion.
“While it is good Labor has finally backed Greens policy, we could have had legislation to enable casual conversion in 2012, when I introduced the first ‘tackling job insecurity’ bill,” said Mr Bandt.
“The Greens lead and the other parties follow.”
“Job insecurity affects people’s ability to live and plan their lives. It makes it harder to make big financial decisions like taking out a mortgage or signing a lease.”
“While Labor’s promise is a good start, it doesn’t go far enough. The Greens will move in the Senate to expand Labor’s bill so that it applies to workers on repeated short-term contracts and so that decisions of the Fair Work Commission on these matters can apply to whole enterprises and industries, not just to individual employees.”
“The Fair Work Commission needs the power to regulate job insecurity across whole businesses and industries, because not every individual worker is in a position to stand up to their employer and run a legal case to enforce their rights.”
Contact: Gideon Reisner, 0429 109 054
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