New rights for casual workers to boost job security

Casual workers are to be granted better job security under new workplace reforms.

The federal government recently announced the reforms, stating that the planned changes will help casual workers transition into full-time work, increasing job security.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke said this legislation would be a win for casual workers across the country.

“Many casuals won’t want a permanent job. If you’re a student or just working a casual job to make some extra money, this change won’t matter to you. But there are casual workers who are trying to support households,” said Mr Burke.

“They’re being used as though they’re permanent workers, and the employer is double dipping – taking all the advantages of a reliable workforce and not providing any of the job security in return. That loophole needs to close.”

While this doesn’t mean that casual workers will be forced to sign full-time contracts, it ensures that those who wish to will find it easier to do so.

“No casual will be forced to lose their loading. No casual will be forced to become a permanent employee,” Mr Burke explained.

“But for those who desperately want security – and are being rostered as though they were permanent – for the first time, job security will be in sight.”

A big influence in this decision are the casual workers who work full-time hours yet lack the job security that comes with it.

The legislation will outline what defines a full-time employee and when an employee should remain casual. There will also be an introduced pathway for workers who want to transition from casual work into full-time work but are not yet able to do so.

According to the government, these reforms will help over 850,000 casual workers currently working above that capacity gain access to better leave entitlements and financial security if they wish to do so.

There will reportedly be no changes made to the time frame in which permanent roles are offered, which is recognised by unions and businesses as 12 months.

The government said this legislation is due to be introduced by the end of the year.

This announcement is another win for casual workers, who have seen increased attention to workplace conditions and rights lately.

Earlier this year, casual coal mining workers were granted extra protections with the Protecting Worker Entitlements Bill introduced to Parliament.

According to the Mining and Energy Union’s general secretary, Grahame Kelly, casual miners often work compressed rosters, which means their working weeks are unpredictable and can include long hours one week and short hours the next. This has resulted in discrepancies and workers not receiving their full entitlements.

“Casuals have been short-changed because there has been no provision to average out the 35 ordinary hours over the roster cycle, as is the case for permanent employees. We made the case for addressing this inequity for casuals in our submission to the 2021 review into the Coal Long Service Leave Scheme,” said Mr Kelly.