Comments on Bernard Salt "Action stations: employees now in state of workplace arousal", 24/09/2009, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26116029-5016345,00.html
An interesting article into the futue of workplace, although the future may not play out as it paints it to be!
Showing posts with label workplace relations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workplace relations. Show all posts
2009-07-09
Fair minimum wage again - distinction from welfare
Comments on Michael Stutchbury ” Swan and Gillard lesson”, 9/07/2009, http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/currentaccount/index.php/theaustralian/comments/swan_and_gillard_lesson/
Michael, while I argued against the freeze of federal minimum wage yesterday, you have a point in arguing that the Australian minimum wage is high by international standards and relative to average wages, if they are true.
There should be a balance between the minimum wage and average wage. If it is relatively too high in Australia compared to international standards, then there is a case for a slower increase in the minimum wage.
At the same time, there should be a clear distinction between paid work and pure welfare be sufficient incentives for people to work as compared to receiving welfare.
A culture of hard working if one can is invaluable and should be encouraged. Paid workers should be better off than welfare dependents.
Michael, while I argued against the freeze of federal minimum wage yesterday, you have a point in arguing that the Australian minimum wage is high by international standards and relative to average wages, if they are true.
There should be a balance between the minimum wage and average wage. If it is relatively too high in Australia compared to international standards, then there is a case for a slower increase in the minimum wage.
At the same time, there should be a clear distinction between paid work and pure welfare be sufficient incentives for people to work as compared to receiving welfare.
A culture of hard working if one can is invaluable and should be encouraged. Paid workers should be better off than welfare dependents.
2009-07-01
Workplace relations regime needs to be fair, productive and long lasting
Comments on Michael Stutchbury “Boneheads are back on the streets”, 1/07/2009, http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/currentaccount/index.php/theaustralian/comments/boneheads_are_back_on_the_streets/
The Rudd government was given a mandate to abolish Work Choices and replace it with a better and fair one. Work Choices just went too far in reforming workplace relations. As a result, it lost the support of most Australians.
In the same token, it seems the current new regime of workplace relations under Rudd / Gillard is doing the same – it has gone too far but in just the opposite direction.
The rights of every working person in Australia should be protected. Naturally, most individual employees are more vulnerable compared to most employers when employees and employers come together and negotiate working conditions and pays. There are clearly needs for laws to protect the rights of working people.
There can also be an appropriate role for unions to play. However, the role for unions should not be mandatory. Employees should have the right to have individual agreements if that is what they so choose.
A fair and productive work relations regime is important in both protecting the rights of employees and employers and being conducive to productivity. Neither too far to the right or the left is right. It needs a balanced approach.
Diversity also has its virtual. Forcing people to go either for the former AWAs or collective agreement will not be best for Australia.
It seems there is a need for more fundamental reforms to the regime governing work place relations. There should be a mechanism that can prevent any government from going too far to either direction.
The Rudd government was given a mandate to abolish Work Choices and replace it with a better and fair one. Work Choices just went too far in reforming workplace relations. As a result, it lost the support of most Australians.
In the same token, it seems the current new regime of workplace relations under Rudd / Gillard is doing the same – it has gone too far but in just the opposite direction.
The rights of every working person in Australia should be protected. Naturally, most individual employees are more vulnerable compared to most employers when employees and employers come together and negotiate working conditions and pays. There are clearly needs for laws to protect the rights of working people.
There can also be an appropriate role for unions to play. However, the role for unions should not be mandatory. Employees should have the right to have individual agreements if that is what they so choose.
A fair and productive work relations regime is important in both protecting the rights of employees and employers and being conducive to productivity. Neither too far to the right or the left is right. It needs a balanced approach.
Diversity also has its virtual. Forcing people to go either for the former AWAs or collective agreement will not be best for Australia.
It seems there is a need for more fundamental reforms to the regime governing work place relations. There should be a mechanism that can prevent any government from going too far to either direction.
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