The ACTU are calling on employer organisations and the coalition government to remove the roadblocks that they are placing in the way of workers and get wages moving.
The Coalition blocked the “Closing Loopholes Bill” from advancing in September, pushing it back until the start of next year.
The ACTU believes that in a cost-of-living crisis, implementing the Bill will mean workers will feel the benefit in their hip pockets.
The Senate inquiry into the Closing Loopholes Bill will take place across the country over the coming month with the first to kick off in Sydney today
Quotes attributable to ACTU President Michele O’Neil:
“Australia is in a wage’s emergency right now, and in an emergency, you don’t wait around, you act.
“If we want to get wages moving, we need to see this bill implemented in its entirety at the earliest opportunity.
“Workers are seeing their bills go up and up, yet their pay isn’t keeping pace. This is one bill workers will be pleased to see, one that creates more reliable, secure jobs in a cost-of-living crisis.
“We’ve recently seen a host of well know Australian companies post profits in the billions, many of which have used these loopholes to game the system and pad out their bottom line. Look at the “Qantas loophole” $1.7 billion in post-tax profits, $24 million bonus to their outgoing CEO all while exploiting a loophole aimed purely to ensure workers lose out on hard earned, and much needed pay.
“Employer groups are fighting against this legislation as many rely on these loopholes to drive down wages and conditions. Too many workers go without the basic rights you’d expect from a developed economy.
“Closing these loopholes will give those workers a fighting chance.
“We need an economy that works for all Australians, not just those at the top, and in this cost-of-living crisis any delay will only inflict more financial pain on workers right at the time where they need support the most”
