Union calls for suspension of punishments amid complaints
Early this month, the Albanese government launched Workforce Australia in a bid to get more people into work - but reviews so far reveal problems in the employment service.
Workforce Australia, which replaced the previous employment service Jobactive, provides information and tools to help people look for work, change jobs, or plan for a future career change, according to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. It is also touted to help people search and apply for jobs, create a profile, set up job alerts, and provide access to resource and training to help jobseekers become job ready.
One feature of the platform is its Points-Based Activation System (PBAS). Previously, the point-based system required applicants to apply for 20 jobs a month to meet their points requirements. This time, however, applicants may earn points in other means aside from applying for 20 jobs a month, such as creating and updating their profile, attending a job fair, among others.
"Jobactive was a rigid system that all too often resulted in jobseekers applying for work they were not suited to, wasting their time and the time of employers," said Employment Minister Tony Burke as quoted by SBS. "Workforce Australia will instead centre around a points-based activation system that will give participants more choice and control."
The maximum points target monthly is 100, which can be adjusted, and accomplishing it will grant the user their income support payment, according to the government.
Despite its promising features, early feedback on the employment service platform reveal that applicants are facing difficulties with the platform. The Australian Unemployed Workers' Union (AUWU) launched a survey that sought the responses of the public, explaining that Burke wanted to hear their feedback on the employment service platform.
The Guardian on Saturday reported the results, revealing how applicants are facing issues with it. The respondents revealed that applicants were getting connected to employment platform's employers who were up to over a hundred kilometres away.
Some were also complaining about the lack of information provided by the department or their Workforce Australia provider, according to The Guardian, with some job agencies also admitting unfamiliarity to the system.
While some gave good feedback on the new point-based system, some pointed out that the points are confusing, and the target expectation is "very intimidating."
Failure to meet obligations can mean demerits for the job applicant, which can see their income support payment reduced or cancelled.
Daniel Levy, national secretary of the AUWU, called on the government to suspend the punishments amid complaints and concerns from the public.
"Today we reiterate our plea to the department to do the humane thing, and suspend mandatory activities and punishments in its new Workforce Australia system for at least 90 days while undertaking a comprehensive review of the system's many failures," he told The Guardian.
