Greens to consider legislation to protect weekend rates if cut
Greens employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the Greens would not rule out legislating to protect weekend rates should the Fair Work Commission cut penalty rates for retail and hospitality workers this year.
“If the Fair Work Commission decides to cut weekend rates for people working in retail and hospitality, it would be a body blow for the hundreds of thousands of Australians who depend on weekend rates to make a living,” Mr Bandt said.
“Young people are already facing unaffordable housing, insecure work and low levels of student assistance, so cutting weekend rates would put them under immense pressure.”
“Unlike Labor who talk tough on weekend rates but will not act should they be cut by the commission, the Greens will investigate how we can protect people’s weekend rates.”
“The Greens will wait to see the commission’s ruling, however we will not rule out legislating to protect weekend rates for the hundreds of thousands of Australians who depend on them.”
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054