Australian Prime Minister John Howard, will today announce details of long overdue workplace reforms.
Key Points include -
- changes to the way minimum wages are set
- changes to award employment conditions
- expansion of exemption from unfair dismissal laws to include companies employing up to 100 workers
- probation period for new employees would also increase from three to six months
Unfair dismissal claims are a huge burden on small businesses who can not afford to carry passengers or surplus staff, but are unable to dismiss employees without fear of penalty.
The proposed legislation means that 90% of employers will be exempt from unfair dismissal claims. These claims are not only costly to the employer, but also the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. Under the proposal, the AIRC will be relieved of half it's workload.
If the proposed legislation is passed, Australian employers will be able to operate with the workforce they want - not what the unions want.
Many small businesses that may have been forced to close due to the burden of current one sided legislation, will be able to operate more effectively. Due to the present industrial relations climate, many employers are reluctant to expand or take on extra staff.
