19/02/02
Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke today introduced major industrial relations reforms that will see a return to a level playing field for employers and employees.
The Labour Relations Reform Bill 2002 will restore an independent umpire with appropriate powers to resolve disputes, provide protection for the lowest paid and the most vulnerable from exploitation and allow unions to have adequate access to existing and new members with controls if these rights are abused.
Mr Kobelke said the reforms had been introduced after wide consultation and a State election where the public clearly voted for a Government that would reform the industrial relations landscape. He said this Bill delivered on the Government's election promise.
Features of the legislation are:
- abolition of exploitative workplace agreements;
- replacement of individual workplace agreements over a 12-month period, with Employer-Employee Agreements that provide a safety net of standards set by the award system;
- restoration of the WA Industrial Relations Commission as the independent umpire to bring about fairness and equity for all parties;
- enhancement of minimum pay and conditions for those on the lowest rates of pay;
- returning the rights of unions to organise and protect their members, while ensuring union officials who deliberately disrupt the workplace are removed from the system;
- meeting the needs of small business by restricting the ability of employees to take successful unfair dismissal action during their first three months of employment; and
- abolition of the Court government's outdated and unworkable 'third wave' legislation on secret ballots and union political expenditure.
Mr Kobelke said balance was the lynch pin of the legislative reforms.
"Employers will still have the ability to tailor flexible workplace arrangements by using the new Employer-Employee Agreements," he said.
"But they will not be able to undercut competitors by forcing down wages as they did under the old Workplace Agreements system.
"Employers will benefit by the changes to the unfair dismissal provisions which will reduce the ability of employees to successfully take unfair dismissal action during the first three months.
"Employees will have the choice of a job that is based on an award and its conditions or an Employer-Employee Agreements underpinned by an award standards or minimum conditions.
"Union representatives will have their right to represent their members enhanced and to seek new members provided they do not unduly hinder or disrupt the workplace. If they do, the WAIRC will stop them from entering any workplace."
Mr Kobelke said the changes would give employees fair employment conditions with an end to bullying and standover tactics and allow unions the right to represent their members properly.
"Employers will be able to compete on a level playing field without the fear of being undercut by their competitors paying below standard wages," he said.
Minister's office: 9222 9211
