Authorities opposes push to slash penalty charges | Australian Markets
An attempt to wind back penalty charges has been opposed by the federal authorities, in a bid to guard staff’ wages and rights.
Office Relations Minister Murray Watt will file a submission to the Honest Work Fee in response to a proposal that might permit retailers to remove penalty charges, meal breaks and additional time pay for a 25 per cent pay rise.
“We’re for pay rises, but we don’t think that minimum safety net conditions … should be stripped away for what will end up being a fairly small pay rise for low-paid workers,” he advised ABC on Friday.
“If anyone thinks that Woolies and Coles and the other big retailers are doing this to pay their workers more … well, I’ve got a Sydney Harbour Bridge to sell you.”
Whereas some staff might choose this offer, Senator Watt says negotiations ought to happen in a “safer, more supervised context” like enterprise bargaining.
About a million Australian staff are coated by the retail award, and plenty of earn about $54,000 a yr.
The Australian Retailers Affiliation, which filed the unique submission, claimed modifications may help simplify Normal Retail Trade Award.
“But you can simplify award without cutting workers pay,” Senator Watt stated.
“We need to remember that the workers we’re talking about here are not highly paid people … (they) don’t have enormous bargaining power, and we need to preserve those minimum conditions through our safety net.
“We wish to see wages grow on this nation, not go backwards, and we’re ready to step in and attempt to defend penalty charges and people different circumstances.”
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