‘Scrap work from home laws’: Employers’ issue desperate plea to Victorian government

Several business groups are urging Victorian Premier Ben Carroll to overturn controversial work from home laws they claim will take the state “backwards”

The state government flagged its intention to legally protect the rights of Victorians to work at least two days a week if they were able to

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This would apply to full-time, part-time, and casual workers

The laws are set to take effect next month, but employers and businesses have released a joint statement calling on the government to reconsider laws they claim focus on a problem that doesn’t exist

“Victoria has the highest unemployment rate in the nation and at a time when households and businesses are under pressure, Victoria cannot afford policies that take the state further backwards,” the statement endorsed by 12 business and employment groups said

“This Bill is a solution trying to find a problem that does not exist because flexible work is already widely available across Victorian workplaces.”

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The statement claimed the laws – designed to protect Aussie workers – would actually do the opposite

Polling in June showed 43 per cent of employers would increase their offshore hiring, while 47 per cent would look to move towards using contractors instead of hiring full-time or part-time staff

Nick Martin, APAC GMT lead at Remote, a payroll and employment infrastructure company, told nine.com.au in June that rising costs, higher compliance loads and shifting workforce expectations were already squeezing employers, and the new changes would add to this

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“This doesn’t mean permanent employment is disappearing, but it does mean organisations may become more selective about which roles they hire for on an ongoing basis,” he said at the time

“It’s natural for employers to start exploring different workforce models, such as hiring internationally,” he said

“Most organisations make workforce decisions based on a mix of factors: skills needs, customer demand, growth plans, and compliance requirements, rather than a single intent to replace roles.”

Monday’s joint statement claimed there had been minimal consultation with business groups during the process to draft the new work-from-home laws, and claimed it could lead to investment and job opportunities decreasing in Victoria

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“The Government should be focused on attracting investment, creating jobs, strengthening household confidence and lifting living standards – not passing legislation that risks pushing investment and jobs out of Victoria,” the statement said

“We urge the Victorian Government to listen to employers, scrap the Work from Home Bill and work in partnership with business on the reforms needed to turn the Victorian economy around.”

The laws were drafted by former Premier Jacinta Allan, and her replacement, Ben Carroll, has indicated he may be willing to tweak the laws

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“Work from home does work for families, and now it will go through that parliamentary process, and we will consider anything that is sensible,” Carroll said late last month

“Sensible changes will always come up in any debate, and like any other debate, they will be considered.”

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   Scrap work from home laws: Employers’ issue desperate plea to Victorian government

Source: www.nine.com.au