IR TASKFORCE TOLD OF WORKPLACE EXPLOITATION
July 19, 2007

A visiting national Industrial Relations Taskforce has heard stories of workplace exploitation in Lithgow as a result of the Howard Government’s WorkChoices legislation.

Bob Debus, federal Labor candidate for Macquarie, said he was disturbed to hear that working families in Lithgow feared for their futures as a result of the new laws.

Mr Debus invited Labor’s Industrial Relations Taskforce to visit Lithgow as part of a tour to gather information from around Australia on the impact of the Government’s WorkChoices laws.

“WorkChoices is changing the nature of our communities by hurting the most vulnerable, particularly those people working in low-paid industries like hospitality,” said Mr Debus.

“People came along to tell their stories and it is clear that what was once unlawful is now lawful.

“I was shocked to hear of young people forced to sign away their penalties, shift allowances, overtime and meal breaks. If they did not sign, they had no job.”

Taskforce chair and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Brendan O’Connor, told the gathering of more than 50 people that a Rudd Labor Government would abolish Australian Workplace Agreements.

“We will not take a step back on this,” he said.

“If a majority of workers want the protection of a collective agreement, they will have one. It is a basic right that has been lost in this country.”

Mr Debus said Lithgow families deserved workplace laws that were based on balance, flexibility and fairness.

“There is a jobs crisis in Lithgow with unemployment at 7.5 per cent,” said Mr Debus.

“Lithgow needs policies that generate local jobs and bring back fairness to the workplace.”