SMALL CHANGE = BIG IMPACT; SUPPORT SA JOBS MR X

20 March 2009

Senate amendments to the Fair Work Bill around the definition of a small business would have a big impact in South Australia - and SA Senator Nick Xenophon is being urged to put SA at the heart of considerations over unfair dismissal laws.

SA Unions says it will seek a meeting with Independent Senator Nick Xenophon to brief him on the effect of raising the threshold for defining a small business from 15 workers to 20.

The change would leave literally tens of thousands more South Australians without adequate protection from unfair dismissal.

"An extra 5 employees on the books may not sound like a big change, but when you look at the way many businesses are structured, its effect will be significant, especially in South Australia", SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says.

"We're very grateful for Nick's stand on water and his desire to protect SA's interests, and we want him to adopt the same attitude to protecting SA jobs.  We want to sit down with him to discuss our concerns, and urge him to rethink his position."

SA Unions is concerned that the proposed change fails to take into account the practice of m any businesses to employ people on a part time basis.  The notion of a small business being one that employs 20 people as full time equivalents means they could in reality employ 100 people, but on a part time basis.

Part time employment is particularly prevalent in the retail and hospitality sectors, where job security is already precarious.  In SA 50% of women are casual workers.  The vast majority of part time and casual workers are women, migrants and young people - arguably amongst the most vulnerable".

"This change removes unfair dismissal protections from what are really many medium size businesses.  We're concerned that Mr Xenophon's efforts to protect small businesses will unwittingly favour medium sized businesses.

"We recognise the need for balance in protecting everyone's interests, and acknowledge Mr Xenophon's efforts to protect small businesses will unwittingly favour medium sized businesses".

"South Australia has a higher than average level of part time workers and hence greater vulnerability to these changes than elsewhere.  People voted at the last election for better industrial protections and job security.  We urge Mr Xenophon to act in the interests of South Australia in pursuing a fair and balanced IR system - and that includes protecting jobs here", Ms Giles says.