In a statement made to media earlier this week, 8 of Australia’s largest industry groups have expressed that the latest upheaval to Australia’s workplace relations régime will lead to lower wage growth and fewer jobs – compounding the plight of workers and families who are already doing it tough.
“The so-called ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ proposals do not mean equal pay for men and women.
“It does not speak of fairness and justice, as its name falsely represents.
“It means by law, employers will have to pay workers with little knowledge or experience exactly the same as workers with decades of knowledge and experience.
“It means by law, you cannot earn better pay by working harder or longer if your colleague does not share your ambition or work ethic,” the statement reads.
It details that this retrograde policy will deny Australian workers flexibility and the capacity to be treated individually. It will deny them the opportunity to negotiate more pay for harder work.
‘Same job, same pay’ will take away worker incentives and reduce productivity. This is not fair to workers or their employers. There is a better way, for better pay.
These changes will make it more difficult for small operators to do business with big companies – rendering many service providers simply unviable – while putting significant constraints on companies wishing to expand, construct new projects and infrastructure, or simply manage their operations in their own way.
Businesses of all shapes and sizes need the ability to ramp up and ramp down, as economic conditions require and as opportunities arise.
Workplace rigidity will ensure these opportunities for growth will either go begging, or companies will be forced to endure a never-ending rollercoaster of hiring and firing as project development, construction and commodity prices rise or fall.
The Albanese Government must put the interests of the community and the broader economy ahead of this overt pursuit of giving more power to unions; a quid pro quo for years of generous support from the movement.
The South Australian Business Chamber supports its national body, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in it’s campaign to oppose the destructive industrial relations changes.
The full statement can be read here >
Campaign participants include the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, Master Builders Australia, Minerals Council of Australia, National Farmers Federation and Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association.
