Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) will argue in tomorrow's appeal to have Fair Work Australia reconsider its July 9 decision to take jobs away from young Australian workers.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said since Fair Work Australia's decision to maintain the new retail award's minimum shift requirement preventing students from working after school, retailers across the country have pleaded for the ARA to take the matter further.*
"School students who want to get their start in the workforce are now losing their jobs and being denied work because the new General Retail Industry Award dictates shifts for casual workers must be a minimum of three hours - this doesn't allow for students to work between the end of school and the typical retail close of business at 5.30pm," Mr Zimmerman said.
"With neither Gillard or Abbott having the courage to look at the current Fair Work Australia legislation and ‘tweak' inflexible workplace relations, the ARA is calling for common sense and for one of the major parties to stand up for school kids.
"Any award that prevents young people from working, completely undermines the value of the personal and professional development school students get from casual retail employment. Someone needs to stand up for these kids, and if the unions won't and Gillard and Abbott won't, we are forced to appeal this decision.
"This appeal is a chance for FWA to hand down a ‘common sense' ruling that protects workers but also gives young Australians the chance to get their first job, which is more often than not in the retail sector.
"FWA has the power to ensure there is some flexibility within the new retail award to specifically allow school students to work shorter shifts on weekdays. The ARA is now calling on FWA to do the right thing and exercise that right," Zimmerman said.
What are retailers saying?:
- Currently, over 55 percent of retailers employ school students for short shifts in between the end of school, at approximately 3pm, and close of business, which is typically 5-5.30pm
- 55 percent of retail respondents said they would stop employing students to work after school as a result of the national three hour minimum shift for casual workers
• Over 60 percent of retailers who don't currently employ students said they don't because they can't give school students the minimum shift required under the Modern Award.
For over 105 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As the only national incorporated retail employer body under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009, the ARA offers a range of member services including employment relations advice, policy development, advocacy and education. The ARA promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers across Australia.
Visit www.retail.org.auor call 1300 368 041.
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