AMWU Turns Up the Heat on the Labour Hire Industry

In its recent submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), rejecting the ACCC's 'voluntary code of conduct' for the labour hire industry, the AMWU produced a number of attachments, highlighting the deficiencies of the proposed code in ensuring ethical and professional conduct in the industry

This article gives a short profile of the way labour hire operates in the manufacturing industry, and outlines the problems with the voluntary code as seen by the AMWU.

The union points out that various inquiries and studies show that labour hire is characterised by inferior wages, limited training and a higher proportion of injuries, accidents and a longer recovery time. The union said that the proposed code assumed that self regulation was appropriate in the industry, when clearly it wasn't working.

The Recruitment and Consulting Services Assn (RCSA) made a major submission on the need for a voluntary code, but the AMWU argued that it should only proceed with the amendments the union proposed. The amendments covered:

· reference to privacy principles and relevant anti-discrimination laws

· fees and charges that workers have to pay must be specifically endorsed by the workers

· pay and conditions must be equal

· respect for safety

· skills training

· disciplinary procedures

· recognition of service with labour hire company as transferring to ongoing employment

Industrial Relations and Management Letter. vol. 20, no. 5, June 2003)