Work barriers report doesn’t go ‘far enough’

A report, designed to tackle the legal workforce barriers facing mature age workers, does not go “far enough”, seniors lobby group, National Seniors, claims.

The Australian Law Reform Commission’s report, Access All Ages—Older Workers and Commonwealth Laws, tabled in Parliament yesterday, identifies legal barriers to older persons participating in the workforce and makes recommendations across superannuation, social security, employment, insurance and compensation law.

“The report says there were ‘considerable concerns about the age based restrictions on voluntary contributions’ for workers compensation and superannuation but makes no recommendation about them,” National Seniors chief executive, Michael O’Neill, said.

While the report also considers that some age based restrictions are justified in superannuation legislation, National Seniors believes all age restrictions for workers compensation and superannuation should be repealed.

“Once you lose your job at a certain age, getting back in is very difficult. A raft of federal and state legislation, such as limiting access to workers compensation and superannuation, only add to perceptions of older workers being worth less,” Mr O’Neill said.

Workers aged over 45 years comprise one third of the unemployed and over two-fifths of the long-term unemployed. Approximately one third of unemployed people aged 55-64 years are long term unemployed, and more than half of those on the disability pension are aged 50 plus.

The report’s “keystone recommendation”, a National Mature Age Workforce Participation Plan to provide a coordinated policy response to mature age employment, is welcome.

“Governments, state and federal, present and future, need to address barriers collectively and allow Australians the flexibility to work longer and provide for their retirement,” Mr O’Neill said.

The report addresses recruitment and employment, work, health and safety, workers’ compensation, insurance, social security, and superannuation. Other positive recommendations include a national award for best practice amongst recruitment agencies and better consumer information regarding the impact of work on social security payments.

Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus, said: “There are enormous opportunities that come with an ageing population including a more experienced workforce and the availability of mentors for younger workers and we need to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten, welcomed the Australian Law Reform Commission’s report and highlighted that the federal government was already acting on a key recommendation.

“We have before the Parliament, legislation which amends the Fair Work Act to provide a right to request flexible working arrangements for mature-age employees and those with caring responsibilities,” Minister Shorten said.

“The federal government has also abolished the Super Guarantee maximum age limit, enabling employees aged 70 years and over to contribute to their retirement savings for the first time.

“This is in addition to a $55.3 million investment in our 2012-2013 budget to specifically encourage employers to recruit and retain mature age job seekers and to help mature age people find and keep a job.

“The report is great because it doesn’t just provide an insight into the challenges older people face in gaining employment, but it gives us a genuine road map of what to do about it.”

For more information, including access to the Commission’s full final report and its recommendations, go to www.alrc.gov.au