Fed: Small business bill would hurt 3m employees - ACTU

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2001
Fed: Small business bill would hurt 3m employees - ACTU

CANBERRA, Aug 30 AAP - A federal government bill intended to make life easier for small
businesses would instead expose their employees to lower wages, unfair sackings and sub-standard
conditions, the ACTU said today.

The Workplace Relations (Small Business and other Measures) Bill was being debated
in federal parliament today.

It aims to ensure the Australian Industrial Relations Commission takes the circumstances
of employers and employees in small business into account, restrict union access to small
business premises and streamline processes for Australian Workplace Agreements.

ACTU secretary Greg Combet said the bill would remove legal rights from half the Australian
workforce, or more than three million employees of businesses with fewer than 20 staff.

"Small businesses are struggling because of John Howard's GST and the slowdown its
forced on the economy," Mr Combet said in a statement.

"Now John Howard is trying to recover ground by taking away the rights of small business
employees. Under these laws, John Howard is saying that these employees can be sacked
and have no protection."

Mr Combet said the laws would unfairly discriminate against half the workforce.

"Why should employees have fewer legal rights and protections just because they work
in small business?," he said.

"John Howard and Employment Minister Tony Abbott don't care about the employment conditions
and job security of these working families," he said.

Mr Combet said former Employment Minister Peter Reith tried to bring in the changes
but they were rejected by parliament because they are unfair.

"Now Tony Abbott is serving them up again as a political stunt," Mr Combet said.

He said the bill discriminated against small business employees by:

* allowing sub-standard individual contracts to apply without review by any independent
umpire, including the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and the Office of the
Employee Advocate; and

* banning unfair dismissal claims; exempting many businesses from awards and commission
hearings; and preventing union representatives from visiting many businesses.

AAP dep/daw/was

KEYWORD: SMALL ACTU

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