Crunch time

To see the impact of changes to the outworkers legislation go to the Ragtrader April 2013 edition.

The Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) and Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA) have weighed in on whispers of a clash over the Home Workers Code (HWC) Committee.

The industry rumor mill went into overdrive last week, following reports that the TFIA had been dumped from the HWC Committee after it opposed proposed changes to the Home Workers Code of Practice (HWCP).

In the first official comment on the matter, ECA national manager Simon McRae confirmed to ragtrader.com.au that the TFIA has been cut from the HWC Committee, pending further talks.

“This HWC Committee has removed the TFIA from the Committee. However the Committee continues to operate effectively with strong industry and union support,” he said.

“The Committee, considering the long term relationship with TFIA, is seeking to meet with the representatives of the TFIA board to address our concerns.”

McRae also hit back at reports that have claimed he told attendees at an industry roundtable on February 27 that the TFIA were at the threat of removal from the HWC Committee. The reports alleged that McRae had made the comments because the TFIA had expressed industry’s intention to not support the interim application of the HWCP.

“This is completely false. I made no comment regarding the TFIA removal from the Committee,” McRae said.

TFIA CEO Jo-Ann Kellock has also cleared the air in regards to recent reports earlier this month which suggested that the ECA had cut the TFIA from the HWC Committee due to a lack of support on the amendments.

“We have always supported the existing HWCP. Our issue is with the lack of consultation for the proposed new Home Workers Code of Practice which is titled 'Textile Clothing and Footwear (Workers and Homeworkers) Code of Practice'. A much broader remit than previous,” she said.

Kellock would not comment on whether the TFIA had been advised and/or confirmed a meeting date with ECA to address concerns over the issue.

McRae, however, denied that the accreditation body is proposing to alter the name of the voluntary code from The Homeworkers Code of Practice to The Textile, Clothing and Footwear (Workers and Homeworkers) Code of Practice.

“We are proposing to add Textiles to the Code of Practice but this was agreed by Committee (including the TFIA) in 2010. It will remain the Homeworkers Code of Practice (The Code).”

The HWCP is a voluntary mechanism where retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, warehouses and fashion houses have agreed to ensure compliance with minimum conditions regarding the employment of homeworkers in the fashion industry.

The existing authorisations previously granted by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) in relation to the Code expired on March 11 2013.

On February 21, 2013 the HWC Committee applied for revocation and substitution of authorisations A91252-55, which relate to the HWCP.

Accordingly, the HWCC also sought urgent interim authorisation to extend this protection in order to maintain the status quo whilst the ACCC further considered the application for reauthorisation.

Reports of a dust-up between the TFIA and ECA began to swirl around March 4, with claims that the ECA had cut the TFIA from the HWC Committee due to a lack of support on the amendments.

On March 7 2013, the HWCC applied to amend its application for authorisation to seek authorisation for a revised version of the Code for five years.

The ACCC granted interim authorisation on March 8 2013, in respect of applications for authorisation lodged by the HWCC on February 21 2013.