Oliver Lees
Brimbank and Melton Future Connect executive officer Deirdre Hardy has welcomed the state government’s announcement that casual workers will be entitled to sick or carer’s pay, but said she hopes the move doesn’t lead to an over casualisation of the workforce.
On March 14, the state government revealed the $245.6 million initiative, which will run as a two-year pilot program.
Under the trial, casual and contract workers can access sick or carer’s pay at national minimum wage for up to five days each year.
The first phase of the scheme will include workers in highly casualised fields such as hospitality, retail, disability care and security.
Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins has thrown her support behind the announcement, suggesting it will serve as a balm to the “toxic” nature of insecure work.
“When people don’t have savings to fall back on, they’re forced to make the choice between the
safety of their co-workers and paying the bills,” Ms Hutchins said.
“It’s wrong that they’re forced into this decision – so we’re making sure they don’t have to.”
Brimbank and Melton Future Connect’s Ms Hardy said she agreed it was positive that the government was supporting workers with less rights.
“Young people that we work with often talk about having a fear of taking time off from casual work,” Ms Hardy said.
“Because they feel if they’re sick one week, they won’t be offered shifts next week.”
But Ms Hardy said she held some concerns that the scheme may entice employers to make positions at their workplace casual rather than full time.
She said this trend had already been occurring in Melton, with reports of warehousing jobs being changed from permanent to casual at the whim of employers.
“It concerns me that more workplaces might see casual employment as an opportunity to save money by not investing fully in staff,” she said.
“We don’t want to see those workers rights eroded through programs that support further casualisation.”
