Canadian Industrial Relations Association/L'Association canadienne des relations industrielles]
Abstract
The public health effects of COVID-19 were less severe in Australia than elsewhere. Successful containment of the pandemic made an early recovery more feasible, though the impact on the economy and jobs, was initially considerable and uneven. A wage subsidy was introduced in response to pressure from social partners, and a form of social dialogue was surprisingly encouraged by the Liberal-National Coalition to facilitate an industrial relations reform program. However, such dialogue seemed difficult to sustain in light of the other aspects of its agenda. The so-called "Omnibus Bill" proposed the Government late 2020 still under discussion in the legislative arena is opposed by trade unions in a "Stop the Bus!" campaign. We will present the major points of contention with an emphasis on the notion of status of employment, noting that the Bill lays the ground for employers to enshrine "permanent casual" modes of employment relationship. Contractual ("bogus" or "sham") and casual forms of employment have become an important feature of the Australian labour market and this in turn has important consequences in terms of working conditions, benefits and rights, the nature of collective coverage and access to collective representation
