Morrison Government to introduce new workplace laws covering casual workers

Long-term casual workers will be able to move to full and part-time positions more easily under new industrial relations laws.

Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images.

Australians would have greater job security and access to more work prospects under major changes to industrial ­relations laws.

The federal government will this week introduce a Bill to make it easier for long-term casual workers to move to ­either permanent part-time or full-time positions.

The proposed laws would prevent “double dipping” where employers could be forced to pay loading and sick leave, which the government sees as a major issue stopping businesses hiring more staff.

It is hoped the new laws will release the handbrake on jobs growth in Australia.

About 800,000 casual workers lost their jobs at the start of the COVID-19 shutdown.

A national definition of a casual worker would be introduced.

Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said the changes “struck the right balance” because they did not go as far as business or unions wanted.

“With so many Australians still out of work, or doing fewer hours as a result of the pandemic, we cannot do nothing when we have a situation where employers are delaying making hiring decisions ­because of ongoing confusion about the legal status of casual employment,” he said.

“Australia’s 2.3 million casual employees need certainty about their work arrangements and entitlements.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in May announced his government would focus on reforming industrial relations to get Australians back in jobs.

Mr Morrison called for an end to “tribalism, conflict and ideological posturing”, ­announcing he was scrapping his union-busting Bill in a show of “good faith” ahead of months of roundtables with business and union leaders.

Under the proposed changes, casuals would be able to request a shift to a permanent contract if they worked largely the same hours for a year, if shifting would not change those hours significantly.

They would be able to re-­request every six months if the employer refused.

Mr Porter said the laws would ensure employers did not have to pay worker entitlements twice by making sure courts deducted any casual loadings paid to employees if a court found an employer should pay benefits.

Last month the Victorian government announced a plan to trial giving casual workers up to five days of sick and carer’s pay at the national minimum wage.