The Government’s proposed changes to Industrial Relations laws have come under fire from the Opposition, claiming that they put the interests of unions ahead of jobs.
Malcolm Turnbull has called on the Government to change the definition of small business in its new workplace laws; with Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce saying it is wrong to only give special rules for unfair dismissal to businesses with less than 15 staff.
Under the Government’s proposed workplace laws, if a workplace has 15 employees or fewer, any of those workers would be able to apply for an unfair dismissal claim. However the Opposition believes that this puts too much pressure on small business and that 15 employees is too low.
“[They] are a significant discouragement for employers to take on new employees because they increase the risk to the employer if the employee does not work out,” said Turnbull.
Julia Gillard is remaining firm on the Government’s new workplace laws.
“ We were elected with a mandate and we are determined to enact that mandate. They [the electorate] voted for Labor’s plan including our plan on unfair dismissals.”
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