deserve fair conditions and protection from exploitation
for a Parliamentary inquiry
Revelations
that retail giant Coles has been responsible for around $20 million worth of
wage theft from Australian workers should concern every Tasmanian.
Shadow
Minister for Workplace Relations Michelle O’Byrne said this was the latest in a
series of massive cases of worker exploitation around the country.
“Tasmanian
workers are paid on average $10,000 less than people in the same jobs on the
mainland – that’s almost $200 every week. Wage theft makes it even harder
for Tasmanians to make ends meet,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“We
understand that up to 50 Tasmanian workers may have been impacted. That is
50 people who have not been paid fairly for the work they undertook for their
employer.
“Wage
theft is hurting hundreds of thousands of workers across the country and this
is another illustration that Tasmania is not immune.
“Let
me be clear – wage theft is theft. If the Liberals really want to be tough on
crime they should be tough on employers that steal from their workers.”
Ms
O’Byrne said a Parliamentary Inquiry into worker conditions is needed.
“Labor
will seek to establish a Parliamentary Inquiry in 2020 into wage theft and
insecure work.
“There
is a need for new wage theft laws to combat systematic, widespread or blatant under
and non-payment of wages and other employment benefits.
“Such
an inquiry must not be limited in a way that would prevent investigation of
labour hire practices.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP – Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations
