SAME JOB, SAME PAY IS NO “MADE UP ISSUE”

The Morrison-Joyce Government has made it clear it will do nothing to stop the labour hire rorts that are ripping off workers in the mining sector and across the economy after arrogantly dismissing it as a “made up issue”.

In Question Time today Labor asked Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce about two train drivers in the Bowen Basin who do the exact same job – but one gets paid $300 a week less because his job is outsourced to a labour hire firm.

“What action will the Government take to stop this, which is hurting workers in regional Australia, and is one of the measures which is leading to the reduction in real wages across the economy?” Anthony Albanese asked.

Mr Joyce refused to answer the question, flicking it instead to Minister Paul Fletcher – who then declared that the “so-called same job, same pay issue” is a “made up issue”.

Tell that to the miners, factory workers, meat workers, constructions workers and retail workers getting ripped off right now.

It doesn’t feel “made up” to the workers getting paid less every day.

It doesn’t feel “made up” to the families struggling to pay the bills.

It only feels “made up” to the Morrison-Joyce Government that is completely out of touch with the concerns of workers.

Companies are deliberately and increasingly using labour hire firms that exploit casual employees to undermine job security and undercut wages in a race to the bottom that hurts all workers.

It’s a rort that has to end.

That’s why Labor committed earlier this year to implementing a “same job, same pay” policy as part of our Secure Australian Jobs Plan. Under a Labor Government workers employed through labour hire companies will receive no less than workers employed directly.

But this doesn’t have to wait to the election.

Just yesterday Labor introduced a private member’s bill to end the rorts and get workers a better deal.

Only Labor has a plan to deliver more secure jobs, better pay and a fairer industrial relations system for Australian working families.

TUESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2021