Government to review workplace relations reforms

The Albanese government is fulfilling a commitment to perform an independent review of its workplace relations reforms.

Emeritus Professor Mark Bray and Professor Alison Preston have been tasked with conducting an independent review of the Albanese government’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act, which was a commitment by the government.

The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act was in the first portion of a series of the government’s workplace relations reforms. Each of the Secure Jobs, Closing Loopholes and Closing Loopholes 2 laws that have been passed and implemented by the Albanese government this parliamentary term contain a commitment to undertake an independent review every two years.

The Closing Loopholes laws, of course, haven’t been passed without controversy, with several workplace stakeholders denouncing the over-compliance forced upon Australian businesses. For example, Employment Hero chief executive Ben Thompson argued that the newly introduced laws would do more harm than good towards Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“It’s time to spotlight the trials and tribulations facing Australian SMEs. We need a balanced dialogue that considers the impact of overregulation on the entrepreneurial spirit and seeks solutions that encourage innovation, enhance global competitiveness, and support the growth of the Australian economy. Our SMEs, entrepreneurs, and local businesses deserve a fighting chance to thrive in a challenging world,” said Thompson.

This act, going through a review, was specifically designed to promote job security, help close the gender pay gap, modernise the workplace bargaining system, and get wages moving.

According to the Minister of Employment and Workplace Relations, the evidence to date indicates the laws are, in fact, achieving their goals as more jobs are being created. He also claims that annual real wages have seen growth above inflation, the gender pay gap has reached record lows, more employers and workers are reaching enterprise agreements, and industrial action is falling.

This review, of course, may highlight different impacts that the laws are having, which fail to align with the claims above, as the review will involve extensive stakeholder engagement.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Murray Watt, encouraged all interested stakeholders to share their experiences.

“The Albanese government has made significant changes to support workplaces with safe, secure employment opportunities that boost wages and production,” said Watt.

“Our emphasis on cooperation rather than conflict is delivering very pleasing results, with wages rising, the gender pay gap at its lowest level ever and the highest number of employees covered by newly approved enterprise agreements in over a decade.

“I encourage interested parties to share their feedback and engage with the reviewers to provide their perspective on the impact of these significant reforms.”