Changes will be made to the government’s workplace reform laws, following talks with business groups and unions. 

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said new amendments would be introduced to the bill as the federal government looks to pass the employment legislation before the end of the year. 

The bill, which includes multi-employer bargaining and the ability to force businesses to cater for requests for more flexible work hours, has been amended so that a majority of support will be needed from employees for a single-interest bargaining authorisation. 

The amendments will also allow businesses and workers to not be compelled into single-interest employer agreements when they have agreed to bargain for a single-enterprise agreement. 

Further changes will also be made to the better-off overall test to make sure new employees under an agreement won’t be left worse off. 

The Fair Work Commission will be required to be satisfied a minimum period of good-faith bargaining has occurred before moving to arbitrate. 

And businesses will be given one year to adjust to changes to fixed-term contracts. 

Check out: How EAs can become truly effective in the hybrid workplace

Announcing the amendments, Minister Burke said they were “sensible improvements” to the bill. 

“Single enterprise agreements will remain the primary form of agreement and this bill makes important improvements to get more people on to single enterprise agreements,” he said. 

“We’re also opening up the multi-employer pathway for people who haven’t been able to access single enterprise agreements, particularly low-paid workers in female-dominated industries.” 

Earlier key senator crossbenchers Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock queried some of the elements of the government’s plan. 

Senator Lambie says she’s waiting for a guarantee the changes will push up wages, which is the government’s main justification for the bill despite opposition from businesses.  

Meanwhile, Senator Pocock has proposed splitting the bill and solely voting on the non-controversial aspects, such as measures to improve gender pay equity, before Christmas. 

“This is not about delaying,” Senator Pocock wrote on Twitter. 

“By splitting the bill we can pass the parts of it that are straightforward and supported across the board and take the proper time to understand and refine parts that aren’t.” 

With AAP

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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