NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, has criticised the Commonwealth's Independent Contractors Bill at a federal senate inquiry in Canberra. Mr Della Bosca said the Independent Contractors Bill was a further attempt by the Howard Government to remove legitimate employment protections by over-riding State laws.

"Like Work Choices, the Bill tilts the employment balance too far towards the employer, encouraging sham contract arrangements that remove basic entitlements," the Minister said. "In the name of 'freeing' contract employees from the 'burden' of an award safety net, families can lose basic conditions and protections."

Employers who make staff 'independent contractors' no longer have to provide:

• · minimum rates of pay
  · annual leave
  · long service leave
  · superannuation
  · workers compensation
  · sick leave, and
  · public holidays.

"Contracting is a completely legitimate way to do business and earn a living, but it must not be used to undermine job security and transfer risk to the worker," Mr Della Bosca said.

For John Della Bosca's comments in full, follow the link here to LaborNET 

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