AWAs an unsafe break for workers
Figures on Australian Workplace Agreements have revealed widespread breaches of occupational health and safety law. 30% of all AWAs that have been examined reveal that workers get no rest breaks during their scheduled hours of work.“This is not only harsh and unfair – it is criminal,” said Brian Boyd, Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
“Workers are protected by occupational health and safety law. Our Victorian law says that the employer has to provide a safe system of work – and that includes decent rest breaks. It’s not good for us to work without any break. We aren’t machines and employers shouldn’t treat us as such,” said Mr Boyd.
“This is just another example of how harsh and unjust John Howard’s workplace laws are. Howard isn’t content with helping employers slash the family pay packet and time with our families. Now he is encouraging employers to break health and safety law. Employers think they can do what they want under Howard’s laws, but they are forgetting that State based OHS laws still call them to account,” added Mr
Boyd.
The VTHC was commenting after The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age obtained statistics collected by the OEA from a sample of 5250 Australian workplace agreements lodged between April and September last year.
Mr Boyd called on WorkSafe - Victoria to prosecute any employer under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which is found to have taken away this safety condition.