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SA UNIONS CLEARS CHILD LABOUR AWARD HURDLE
6 November 2006
SA Unions Child Labour Award 2006 has cleared its first hurdle, with the Industrial Relations Commission directing the parties to proceed with discussions.
Business SA told the IRC today (3 Nov) it wants to challenge the Commission's jurisdiction to consider the Award, and is opposed to the Award on economic grounds.
SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says rather than knock it out, the IRC decided the case should proceed, and referred the jurisdictional question to the full bench of the Industrial Court for consideration.
The IRC meanwhile directed Business SA to have discussions with SA Unions about the content of the Award.
"We're really pleased with this outcome, because it gives us an opportunity to explain the importance of this Award in protecting children from exploitation, and hopefully we will be able to persuade the business lobby to reconsider its position and lend its support", Ms Giles says.
The Award contains important provisions to protect children from underpayment, unfair working hours, unsafe working conditions, sexual predation, and other exploitation.
"SA Unions is absolutely determined to fight for children to have greater rights and protections. No business should profit at children's expense. We need tough laws to stop that happening", Ms Giles says.
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