Employers Asked To Absorb Casuals to Permanent Status

Former Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe encouraged companies to absorb casual employees and give them permanent status. He made the recommendation when he recently gave the keynote address at the ACTU Congress held in Sydney. 

Addressing over a thousand delegates, the former official said that in the last three decades, the economy has witnessed a revolution where living standards have greatly improved, courtesy of ‘internationalization.’ 

He noted that despite economic changes, job security or finding permanent employment still remains at risk. Many companies have used casual employment arrangements to protect themselves from structural downturns.

According to Howe, millions of Aussies have been moved to jobs that do not promise them security, as many are still employed as casuals with many even working from home.These workers are at a disadvantage because they do not get paid leaves and holidays and they do not get regular pay. 

Howe headed an inquiry panel that looked into the status of non-permanent employment for six months. This involved 22 towns and cities across the country. 

The panel’s report, which had been released today, warns of a casual revolution and suggests that these casuals must only be accepted for ‘irregular, intermittent or very short-term work.’ Otherwise, employers need to come up with a new plan and suggested temporary job creations must be outlawed. 

The suggestion also points to Fair Work Australia as its watchdog. The organization will be given the authority to force employers to absorb their causal employees and give them permanent status. 

Meanwhile, employer groups say that these changes may affect the balance of power between workers and employers. Business owners and leaders, they say, will most likely reject the solutions by the panel.