An IEU member who had been on a fixed-term contract for three years has secured a continuing (permanent) position thanks to IEU support and changes to legislation.
IEU Industrial Services Officer Mark Moorhead said the member was initially placed on another one year fixed-term contract for 2024 for the same work with continuity of employment.
“We pointed out to the employer this was in breach of the new fixed-term contract provisions in the Fair Work Act, and they amended the member’s contract so it was continuing,” Mark said.
“This was a great result for the member, who now has increased job security.
“We were able to fight for this member thanks to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill provisions that came into effect last December.
“It’s important fixed-term contracts are not being misused by employers, as there are an array of problems that can arise for employees including limiting career development and difficulty with obtaining a loan,” he said.
Closing Loopholes Bill
Mark said the new legislation was a step in the right direction for workers’ rights.
“This legislation delivers better rights for workers, which in turn help deliver better wages during the cost-of-living crisis,” Mark said.
“These changes will make work a safer place to be, as well as give workers a pay boost at a time when they really need it,” he said.
Key parts of the Bill include:
- Criminalising wage theft. For too long, workers have had wages stolen from them with little recourse. This Bill will increase the civil penalties for wage theft and criminalise intentional wage theft. Superannuation theft is alsoincluded in this legislation.
- Strengthening rights for workplace delegates.
- Criminalising industrial manslaughter.
- Introducing better support for first responders diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- Strengthening protections against discrimination for employees subjected to family and domestic violence.
- Criminalising industrial manslaughter.
- Closing the labour-hire loophole, which will mean better pay for labour-hire workers who are brought in by companies like BHP and Qantas to drive down wages in their industries.
