Aussies have been warned that the new ‘right to disconnect’ law could give them fewer rights and end benefits such as leaving work early to pick up children or see a GP.
Bosses could soon be fined for contacting employees outside normal working hours, a move that has sparked outrage from some business advocates.
The law, which is expected to pass the Senate this week, is aimed at making workers’ lives easier but could put them on a collision course with bosses.
Innes Willox from the Australian Industry Group said flexibility is needed in the workplace and the new law will shatter the current consensus.
“Flexibility works both ways and if employees want to play hardball, they can expect their employers to respond accordingly,” he said. The Australian.
A new right-to-disconnect law could see employers end temporary working arrangements, such as letting staff leave early to pick up children or see a doctor. The photo shows a young woman on the phone
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the coalition will make the repeal of the law a key part of its campaign in elections expected within 15 months.
He said the Liberals and Nationals would “pursue policies (heading into the election) that are in the best interests of our country and that support workers but do not make it impossible, especially for small businesses, to employ workers.” to take’.
Mr Dutton also noted how the ‘right to disconnect’ provision, which is part of a wider set of workplace changes, came from the Greens in the Senate.
“If you think it’s OK to outsource your industrial relations or economic policy to the Greens… then you will see the continuation of the productivity problem in this country,” he said.
He was supported by Simon Birmingham, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
“Right now in the Senate you have the madness in which the Albanian government has caved to the Greens on this so-called right to disconnect services,” he told the ABC.
‘And yet, after giving in to a Greens amendment, they are desperately trying to change the Greens amendment because they don’t like its content.
“It’s a complete, hasty mess that has been wrought without proper consultation, without anyone really being able to stand up and explain what this means.”
Mr Birmingham added that the law “poses a huge threat to Australian employers and workers (due to) confusion that will only hurt productivity and make employers even more reluctant to give people jobs.”
The photo shows a work call coming in outside normal working hours. Similar calls could soon be banned
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected the opposition’s claim that the law is bad for workers.
“What Peter Dutton wants is lower wages, more taxes for low- and middle-income Australians and a continued rollback of all the reforms being made in the interests of working people,” the Prime Minister said on Sunday.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus also supports the new laws, saying they would lead to better health outcomes.
The right to disconnect would “guarantee balance and flexibility by allowing negotiations between workers, their unions and employers to tailor what is reasonable.”
“This means better mental health and better work-life balance for millions of working families. A healthy workforce is a productive workforce,” she said.
Andrew McKellar from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said there is a lot of uncertainty about the new laws and businesses are “in uncharted waters”.
“I don’t think this is clear from the legislation that was passed in such a hurry last week. There is no clear guidance there for employees or employers on what this new test will entail,” he said.
Right to disconnect provisions already exist in workplace agreements in Australia, including those negotiated by the National Tertiary Education Union.
The union’s general secretary, Dr Damien Cahill, said the changes would be a big win for workers.
“Our union has led the way on some of the first rights to unbundle rights enshrined in enterprise agreements and we wholeheartedly welcome similar rights being extended to all employees,” Dr. Cahill to Daily Mail Australia.