Victoria's new initiative is the first of it's kind in Australia – and casuals are already reaping the rewards
More than 30,000 casual and contract works across Victoria have signed up for the government's Sick Pay Guarantee programme, according to Employment Minister Jaala Pulford.
The programme, which is a first across Australia, aims to provide eligible casual and contract workers with sick pay when they can't report to work. They can claim up to 38 hours a year of sick and carer's pay under the initiative.
"Victoria is the only state in Australia that is supporting casual and contract workers in this way – no one should have to choose between their health and a day's pay," said Pulford in a statement.
And on Friday, the minister announced that over 30,000 eligible workers have signed up for the initiative since its release, while over $6 million have been paid to thousands of workers across frontline sectors.
According to the state government, more than 21% of the registered workers are from regional Victoria, and are mostly from carers, aiders, security workers, as well as hospitality workers and cleaners. Despite these figures, however, the 30,000 is still a small portion compared to the more than 150,000 estimated by the government to be eligible for the programme.
Read more: This state has the lowest regional unemployment rate in Australia
The government's press release detailed the story of Ava Grimshaw-Hall, a casual retail assistant who signed up and recently benefited from the programme. Grimshaw-Hall had to take time off to undergo surgery after a mishap in the kitchen, where a piece of a dish severed two tendons in her hand. According to the worker, she was able to get time off without worrying how to pay for her bills thanks to the government's initiative.
"My advice to casual workers is to sign up to the programme, get ahead of it, it's there to help so you don't ever have to suffer financially," she said as quoted by the media release.
Casual and contract workers don't receive paid holiday or sick leave, benefits that are commonly required for full-time employees of organisations. This puts their income at great risk whenever they need to take a day off.
The government has launched and is fully funding the programme over the next two years in hopes of "reduce workplace injuries and illness, improve productivity, and lower staff turnover."
"This is about supporting casual workers to take the time the need to get well or care for a loved one," said Pulford.
