ACTU Media Release 04 May 2006
The Howard Government's proposed new "Independent Contractors" law will further undermine the job security of working Australians by making it easier for big businesses to replace existing workers with so-calledindependent contractors says the ACTU.

Commenting on the Government's announcement that it plans to introduce a new law to promote independent contracting next month, ACTU PresidentSharan Burrow said:

"The 'Independent Contractors Act' is the Howard Govt's next industrial relations onslaught. Already we have seen the WorkChoices IR laws make it easier for employers to sack their permanent staff and re-employ them as casuals or on contracts with lower wages and conditions.

The Government now proposes to take this a step further with a new law that will allow more employers to avoid responsibility for paying superannuation, workers compensation, annual leave and other basic entitlements to people who are called 'contractors' but are essentially employees."...more