Growcom and the Queensland Horticulture Council have provided comment on a range of options suggested by the Queensland Government to protect labour hire workers in Queensland from mistreatment and exploitation.
This follows the release of the Parliamentary Committee’s report last June containing evidence of exploitation and mistreatment of labour hire workers in Queensland. The report, Inquiry into the practices of the labour hire industry in Queensland, can be read online on the Parliament website (http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/) or via this link: http://bit.ly/29JgYwZ.
Similar evidence of exploitation and mistreatment has also been provided to inquiries held in other Australian jurisdictions.
A labour hire issues paper released by the government outlined a range of options the government is considering in its efforts to improve the industry – including state regulation through a licensing scheme. The issues paper Regulation of the labour hire industry 2016 can be read on the Queensland Treasury website (www.treasury.qld.gov.au) here: http://bit.ly/2jvbiOF.
However, in our submission we called for a national agreement through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) rather than a state-based approach. We have responded to a range of other issues raised in the paper. The closing date for submissions is next Monday, February 6.
In the meantime Growcom is continuing to inform horticulture growers and all farmers of their legal obligations under the Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards and relevant awards.
Free half-day seminars, funded by the Queensland Government and sponsored by AustSafe Super, are being held in various regional locations to help agricultural businesses achieve Fair Work compliance and better manage employment risks.
By attending these seminars, participants take away a much clearer understanding of where the gaps are in their policies and practices. Importantly, they are provided with useful links to industry relevant best practice resources to establish improved practices in their workplaces.
To date, 96 per cent of surveyed participants said that they would implement workplace management improvements as a result of what they had learnt at the seminar.
The next seminar will be held in Mackay next Wednesday, February 8. Other dates coming up are:
- Yeppoon – Tuesday February 14
- Emerald – Wednesday February 15
- St George – Wednesday March 1
- Kingaroy – Wednesday March 15
The seminars are free of charge for all agricultural producers. To register visit: http://www.growcom.com.au/wes.
