{"id":18150,"date":"2021-03-11T06:35:54","date_gmt":"2021-03-10T19:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/?p=18150"},"modified":"2025-07-28T15:47:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T05:47:25","slug":"workers-tell-senate-committee-ir-bill-wipes-out-wage-theft-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/archive\/workers-tell-senate-committee-ir-bill-wipes-out-wage-theft-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"WORKERS TELL SENATE COMMITTEE: IR BILL WIPES OUT WAGE THEFT LAWS"},"content":{"rendered":"

MEDIA ALERT<\/strong><\/p>\n

WHEN:<\/strong>\u00a08 am Thursday 11 March 2021<\/p>\n

WHERE:<\/strong>\u00a0Outside Victoria\u2019s Parliament House<\/p>\n

WHAT:<\/strong>\u00a0The Senate Economics Committee hearing on the Unlawful underpayment of employee remuneration inquiry. Workers and Victorian leaders speak out on the IR Omnibus Bill wage theft component that will undermine and weaken wage theft laws in Victoria, as well as Queensland.<\/p>\n

WHO:<\/strong>\u00a0United Workers Union members Jules Gibson, Mohammed Abdillahi and Trent Whitehand-Willick will be sharing their stories of wage theft and how the IR Omnibus Bill threatens to strip away state protections. They will be joined by ACTU President Michele O\u2019Neil, VTHC Assistant Secretary Carina Garland and Victorian Senator Jess Walsh.<\/p>\n

Attributable to Jules Gibson, Hospo Voice member, the hospitality arm of the United Workers Union:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve worked 16 years in the hospitality industry. I went to one of the best restaurants in town owned by an illustrious \u201ccelebrity chef\u201d \u2013 there I was taught the industry standard; 12-hour unpaid trial shifts, timesheets frowned upon, unpaid overtime, super never paid correctly if at all, no breaks, no penalties, and rostering that impinges on workplace safety. When Victoria introduced legislation criminalising wage theft, I cried. Finally, workers were going to have something solid and strong that couldn\u2019t be manipulated or be met with wilful ignorance and poor excuses. We had hope. But now, along comes this Bill and I\u2019m sick to my stomach. We\u2019ve suffered gaslighting, wage stagnation and exploitation and now you want to put forward a Bill that further entrenches these abuses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attributable to Michele O’Neil, ACTU President:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWorkers deserve a fast, efficient and non-costly way of recovering stolen wages. There also needs to be repercussions for employers who steal hard-earned wages from their workers. Wage theft has become a business model across so many sectors of the economy. It needs to be seriously addressed. We need wage growth for working people to pull us out of this recession. The Morrison Government\u2019s IR Omnibus Bill will undermine important tough penalties for wage theft that have been won by workers and their unions in Victoria and Queensland. The last thing the Federal Government should be doing is weakening protections for workers when what is needed is more secure jobs and better wages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attributable to Carina Garland, Assistant Secretary Victoria Trades Hall Council:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here today to give evidence on why the IR Bill is a kick in the guts to Victorian workers. Workers are asking why is the government trying to ram through laws that will keep wages low and entrench insecure work? Victorian workers won\u2019t risk strong state wage theft laws being undermined by weak Federal laws. Workers need real justice. Wage thieves must be held to account and pay workers their stolen wages. If you don\u2019t pay your workers, you shouldn\u2019t run a business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attributable to Jess Walsh, Senator for Victoria:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cScott Morrison and the Liberals are running a protection racket for unscrupulous employers in Victoria. The Government\u2019s proposed legislation will wipe out Victoria\u2019s stronger wage theft laws. Victorian workers fought hard for their own wage theft laws. They were sick of the rip offs and they decided to fight back. The Government\u2019s legislation is just a massive kick in the guts for Victorian workers, and a free pass for employers who do the wrong thing. Under Christian Porter\u2019s laws jail time for wage thieves in Victoria is reduced.The bar is set so high for workers that many will find it impossible to be able to even bring a case against an employer. If the IR laws pass Parliament, there is every chance that the next George Calombaris, Rockpool or Dinner by Heston will escape prosecution.\u201d<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong>\u00a0Everyone attending this event will be expected to adhere to social distancing guidelines.<\/p>\n

ENDS<\/b><\/p>\n

Media Contact: 1300 898 633, <\/a>media@unitedworkers.org.au<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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