The State Government has introduced legislation designed to bolster employment conditions in the Western Australian industrial relations system.
The State Government has introduced legislation designed to bolster employment conditions in the Western Australian industrial relations system.
The Labour Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 will amend various Acts dealing with minimum leave conditions and wages.
Employment Protection Minister John Bowler said the reforms would starkly contrast with the Howard Government's recent industrial relations changes.
The Minister said he believed the changes to minimum leave entitlements were imperative in light of an increasingly competitive labour market
"The legislation will improve long service leave entitlements for many workers in the private sector, as well as strengthen unpaid parental leave entitlements," he said.
The legislation is designed to help address the work-life balance in the workplace, and could also assist with employee retention.
Under the reforms, employees will be entitled to take eight periods of two to three weeks' long service leave after 10 years' service, with a pro rata entitlement after seven years' service.
Employees will be entitled to request up to 104 weeks' unpaid parental leave, and to return to work after parental leave on modified working arrangements.
The legislation also responds in part to the Howard Government's industrial relations changes which commenced on March 27.
"It has been necessary to sever the link between federal minimum wages and State minimum wages," Mr Bowler said.
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State Government to bolster employment conditions.
The State Government has introduced legislation into Parliament designed to bolster employment conditions in the Western Australian industrial relations system.
The Labour Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 will amend various Acts dealing with minimum leave conditions and wages.
Employment Protection Minister John Bowler said the reforms would starkly contrast with the Howard Government's recent industrial relations changes.
"Unlike the Howard Government, we do not believe that employees are an expendable commodity and these reforms recognise the contribution which workers and their families have made to WA's booming economy," Mr Bowler said.
The Minister said he believed the changes to minimum leave entitlements were imperative in light of an increasingly competitive labour market. WA companies would find it increasingly difficult attracting workers from the Eastern States when they offered the worst conditions.
"The legislation will improve long service leave entitlements for many workers in the private sector, as well as strengthen unpaid parental leave entitlements," he said.
"Employers can no longer ignore work-life balance as a major attraction and retention issue."
Under the reforms, employees will be entitled to take eight periods of two to three weeks' long service leave after 10 years' service, with a pro rata entitlement after seven years' service. Employees will be entitled to request up to 104 weeks' unpaid parental leave, and to return to work after parental leave on modified working arrangements.
The legislation also responds in part to the Howard Government's industrial relations changes which commenced on March 27.
"It has been necessary to sever the link between federal minimum wages and State minimum wages," Mr Bowler said.
"The Howard Government has established a new wage-setting body designed to cut minimum wages over time.
"A posse of Howard sympathisers will determine minimum wages in the federal system. In this State, the WA Industrial Relations Commission will independently determine minimum wages. It is the fairest and most impartial solution."
In addition, the legislation will enable parties bargaining for a collective agreement in the federal system to initiate good faith bargaining.
"The Howard Government has removed any scrap of fairness from
agreement-making," the Minister said.
"Employers now have carte blanche to force employees on to substandard individual agreements. Our reforms will help to promote collective bargaining in the federal system.
"The bottom line is that the Carpenter Government will continue fighting for fair employment conditions for WA workers and their families. Fair employment conditions are more than just rhetoric - they underpin the very fabric of our way of life."
Media contact: Stuart McLagan 9222 9699 / 0428 112 430 Mobile
Statements available on the Government's regional website: http://www.regional.mediastatements.wa.gov.au and you can also subscribe to have media releases emailed automatically from the Government's website: http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au