Call comes as over 500,000 long-term casuals want to become permanent employees
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has called for the urgent passing of the second Closing Loopholes Bill as the number of casual workers hits record-high and their desire to become permanent grows.
The number of casual employees in Australia recently hit a new record of 2.73 million, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data recently revealed.
Among them, an estimated 554,000 are long-term casuals who want to become permanent employees, a feat that has only been achieved by less than five per cent of them, according to ACTU analysis.
ACTU president Michele O'Neil said casual workers whose jobs are "regular and ongoing" should have the choice to become permanent workers.
"Too many casuals are casuals in name only. Most casuals work regular hours, week in week out, and have been in their job for more than a year," O'Neil said in a statement.
According to ACTU research, casual workers are earning $11.90 less than their permanently employed counterparts. They are also more vulnerable to the cost-of-living crisis than regular employees.
"If we are to tackle this cost-of-living crisis, Australian workers need reliable jobs so they can have reliable incomes," O'Neil said.
The Closing Loopholes Bill No. 2 is set to address the conversion of casual employees by introducing a definition for casual employment.
Under the proposed bill, employers will also be required to offer casuals who work regular hours a permanent job.
But employers have been crying foul over these proposed changes since the bill was introduced.
Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said the bill's proposed changes to casual employment are not consistent with the High Court's definition of a casual employee. It is also incompatible with the interpretation of the Fair Work Commission on casual employment.
O'Neil, however, only slammed employers who have been favouring the casual employment system to their advantage.
"We need to stop employers rorting the system and ensure that the right to conversion for workers who chose to be permanent is clear and accessible," O'Neil said.
The second Closing Loopholes Bill is due to be debated in February 2024. The first part of the legislation was recently passed, addressing wage theft, labour hire system, among others.
