Jon Seeley has launched a scathing attack on the Albanese government’s industrial reforms, warning the company would have to sack and rehire its casual workforce every three months to comply, dealing a “class war” death blow to productivity.
Mr Seeley told The Australian: “As Australia’s largest air conditioning manufacturer, we have a strong seasonal element to our business, with a significant requirement for additional workers during the summer and winter peaks. We have many seasonal casual staff who come back each year, earning good wages including their 25 per cent casual loading, then heading off to do other things for the rest of the year. The advice we are receiving is that the draconian industrial relations changes being rammed through will force us to offer these team members permanent roles, with no leave loading, then sack them three months later. Everyone will be worse off – workers, employers and the economy more broadly.”
The government is yet to release its proposed draft laws, but it has flagged exemptions for labour hire, short-term and seasonal work to be defined as three months or less. Workers employed beyond that would need to be paid on a full-time basis.
The government’s IR proposal has also been criticised by the Minerals Council of Australia, Business Council of Australia, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Petroleum & Exploration Association, Master Builders Australia, National Farmers Federation, Council of Small Business Organisations Australia and the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association.
Source: The Australian