A cap on fixed term contracts welcomed

Media Release - May 16, 2019

The peak body for working people welcomes the ALP’s commitment to cap the number of fixed term contracts and endless job insecurity.

Labor will limit the unfair use of endless rolling fixed-term contracts and ensure working people have access to secure ongoing employment rather than the uncertainty of one temporary job after another.

The ALP proposes a cap on the number of fixed term contracts a working person can be offered before converting them to permanent employment. It will set a limit on fixed term contracts, seeing a limit to four consecutive fixed term contracts, within a 24-month cap, before an employer is required to offer them a permanent part time or full time position.

Australia faces a crisis of insecure work and is one of only a few OECD countries that currently places no limits on the use of fixed term contracts.

We need to change the Government to change the rules so that working people have more secure jobs and can win fair pay rises.

Today’s announcement is an important step to addressing the insecure work crisis that has engulfed working people across all sectors.


Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:

“We welcome the ALP’s commitment to create more secure jobs and win a fair go for working people.

“Working people have suffered through the worst insecure work crisis under the Morrison led Coalition Government. They have done nothing to fix insecure work in this country, denying it’s a problem.

“Working people deserve a fair go, jobs they can count on, and fair pay.

“It’s time to end the insecure work chaos and change the Government to change the rules.”

The ACTU Network

Australian Unions

Whether you want to join a union, take action in campaigns, or make the most of the benefits of being a union member, Australian Unions is the place to go for information and resources.
Visit Australian Unions

Mind Your Head

We’re taking action to protect workplace mental health.
Visit Mind Your Head

Worksite

Your rights at work for students and for people entering the workforce for the first time.
Visit Worksite

OHS

Information and resources for health and safety representatives and workers about how to speak up at work for health and safety.
Visit OHS

Union Aid Abroad

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is the overseas aid and development agency of the ACTU. Our work aims to build self-reliance through support to educational and training projects for workers and their organisations in the developing world.
Visit Union Aid Abroad

ACTU National Union Directory

Find who you are looking for from the who’s who of the union movement.
Visit the ACTU National Union Dictionary

Representing Australian workers and their families.