Anxious business watches IR reform go down to the wire
It’s decision week for the Senate crossbench and the government’s hopes of even minor industrial relations reform. Employer groups are warning of disastrous consequences if the bill isn’t passed.
Graeme owns a small, struggling family dry-cleaning business in Victoria. He is also one of many small business owners who have written to Senate crossbenchers pleading with them to pass the government’s industrial relations bill this week.
Graeme’s alarm is due to one of his former casual employees seeking back pay worth tens of thousands of dollars in annual leave and other entitlements dating back six years. That’s despite that casual receiving the typical 25 per cent loading on the award rate for all of that period and repeatedly requesting to remain a casual because of the higher pay rate.
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Jennifer Hewett is the national affairs columnist. She writes a daily column on politics, business and the economy. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter. Email Jennifer at jennifer.hewett@afr.com
