Home topics news Image Credit: Jeriden Villegas News News Business groups oppose ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ proposal Yajush Gupta June 8, 2023 Australia’s business community has launched a collective campaign opposing the “same job, same pay” reforms proposed by the Albanese government. Representing various sectors, including small businesses, builders, farmers, the recruitment industry, minerals and gas sectors, the Business Council of Australia, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, these employer groups have joined forces in expressing their concerns. The Labor party made a pre-election promise to enact legislation ensuring that labor hire workers receive equal pay for performing the same job as employees within their businesses. The implementation of this reform is targeted for the second half of 2023. According to the consultation paper released by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations in April, labor hire workers would be considered to be performing the “same job” if they carry out duties that are equivalent to those covered by a workplace pay agreement (known as an enterprise agreement), an award safety net, or if they perform duties comparable to those of directly employed individuals working for the host company. According to COSBOA, the “Same Job, Same Pay” proposals are misleading and do not promote equal pay for men and women, fairness, or justice as their name suggests. Instead, they contend that the reforms would enforce a requirement for employers to pay inexperienced workers the same wages as those with decades of knowledge and experience. They further argue that