More than 3000 Australian workers are set to receive substantial salary increases next payday, as the Albanese government’s ‘Same job, Same pay’ laws come into effect from today.
The changes passed last year close a legal loophole for workers employed by labour hire companies, who often pay workers well below the rates of their colleagues at their host employer doing the same jobs.
The new laws are intended to stop labour hire companies from undercutting enterprise agreements reached by host employers.
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It will impact industries including mining, aviation, warehousing and meat processing which rely heavily on labour hire companies.
Among the first to benefit are more than 800 domestic Qantas flight attendants, who will see pay rises of up to 28 per cent backdated from today in their next pay cheque.
The move has been welcomed by CTU Secretary Sally McManus.
“These wage increases are life-changing for flight attendants and their loved ones,” she said in a statement.
“Working people across many industries are experiencing the benefits of the Albanese Government refusing to bend to big business who lobbied hard to stop these laws, including CEOs like Alan Joyce.”
As a result of the changes, Qantas has also agreed to bring a further 2,450 long-haul cabin crew who were employed via labour hire into direct employment, meaning they will receive the same pay and entitlements as other long-haul staff.
Also set to benefit are around 320 labour hire workers at the Batchfire Callide mine in Queensland, who will receive an astonishing $20,000 more each year after an order issued by the Fair Work Commission.
Workers employed by two labour hire firms working at Australian Country Choice Production meatworks in Queensland are expected to see pay rises of up to 25 percent.
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One of the biggest beneficiaries will be workers at the South 32 Cannington silver and lead mine near Cloncurry, who are expecting pay increases of up to 60 percent.
Thousands more Australia workers are likely to benefit from the new laws, with more than 40 ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ applications currently in the pipeline before the Fair Work Commission.
However, there are fears the Coalition will attempt to repeal the legislation if elected next year, as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been vocal in his opposition to the changes.
Mining and Energy Union president Tony Maher said at the union’s national convention earlier this week unions are already gearing up for a battle with the Coalition.
The Coalition has not yet said what it will do, if elected, to the new laws.
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