First low paid bargaining claim welcomed
Today, the Gillard Government welcomes the start of the first low paid bargaining claim under the new Fair Work Act.
Minister for Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans, and Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, said the claim, initiated by the Liquor Hospitality Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU), is the first application of its kind and covers workers in the aged care sector.
“The low paid bargaining provisions are an important part of the Gillard Government’s Fair Work Act,” Senator Evans said.
“They are intended to meet the particular needs of low paid workers in Australia whose wages and conditions were so vulnerable under the Liberal Party’s WorkChoices laws.”
Mr Butler welcomed Fair Work Australia’s examination of the adequacy of wages in aged care.
“Staff in this sector perform some of Australia’s most important work – caring for the nation’s older citizens,” he said.
“Employers and unions tell me regularly that the adequacy of wages in the sector is an important factor in the recruitment and retention of a high quality workforce to perform this critical work.
“This is obviously an industry-wide challenge and I look forward to employees and unions in the sector working together to develop an industry-wide response.”
Minister Butler said the aged care sector provides care for hundreds of thousands of older Australians and employs more than 260,000 staff.
“With the ageing of Australia’s population, those figures are projected to grow significantly at the same time that Australia’s labour supply contracts,” he said.
“Wage equity between aged care staff and, in particular, their public hospital equivalents is a significant barrier to recruitment and retention of suitability qualified staff in the sector.”
These and other issues relating to the supply of a suitably qualified and remunerated aged care workforce have been referred to the Productivity Commission for advice.
The Productivity Commission’s final report into aged care is due to be received in June 2011.
