The Senate has rejected Labor’s bid to have a casual loading amendment that prevents casual employees from receiving leave entitlements and a casual loading disallowed.
The Senate voted down the Casual Loading Disallowance motion last night.
The motion was introduced into parliament late last year after Workplace Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer introduced the Fair Work Amendment Casual Loading Offset Regulation 2018.
This regulation was tabled after the Federal Court ruled truck driver Paul Skene, who was employed casually through labour hire firm Workpac for over two years to work at mining giant Rio Tinto, was considered a full-time employee entitled to annual leave and sick pay due to his regular work hours and fixed roster.
The ruling sparked wide concerns throughout the business community about what this could potentially mean for workers who are employed as casuals and receive an up to 20 per cent loading but also work set days.
Print & Visual Communications Association (PVCA) chief executive officer Andrew Macaulay has welcomed the vote saying the regulation is needed to protect small and family businesses from a potential $8 billion hit in “double dipping” holiday pay claims from those employed as casuals.
“On behalf of thousands of small printing, packaging and visual communication businesses across the country, PVCA thanks the Coalition and the Crossbench for their sensible and practical approach in choosing to protect this vital law,” Macaulay said.
“It is regrettable that employers were deliberately exposed to this reckless move, one that caused unnecessary distress and uncertainty for them.
“It was particularly disappointing, and hopefully a one-off, to see any party dismiss offhand the genuine concerns of the printing community, of which the vast majority are small and family owned businesses.
“PVCA will continue to work with all sides of politics to ensure that policies, laws and regulations, reflect the realities of running a printing business in Australia.”
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