New bill to target outworkers

NATIONAL: The Federal Government’s recently proposed Fair Work Bill will contain special provisions for outworkers. Announcing the bill on November 25 at Parliament House, deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment and Workplace relations Julia Gillard said the provisions recognised outworkers as "an acutely at-risk sector of the Australian workforce."

“I also flag the Government's intention to carefully examine the provisions of the Bill concerning right of entry to investigate breaches of entitlements to ensure the Bill provides an effective compliance regime for at-risk workers in the textile, clothing and footwear industry,” she said. 

The Fair Work Bill 2008 would also strive for "balance" in considering the business community's needs, she added.

"Balance in terms of supporting entrepreneurship, initiative and the growth of the businesses that produce our goods and services and employ others, while providing for fair and decent work for employees and a fair return for their labour.”

The Government's aim is to have the draft laws pass the House of Representatives by the end of next week and through the Senate early next year for introduction in 2010. Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull told media the Opposition reserved its right to propose amendments to improve the operation of the bill following the Senate inquiry.

However it would not stand in the way of legislation to put an end to the previous Howard Government's Work Choices scheme.

"The Coalition accepts Work Choices is dead. The Australian people have spoken," Turnbull said.