MEAA endorses the submission of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and makes the following supplementary remarks.
MEAA supported the key reforms contained in the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023 and the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Act 2024 (collectively the Closing Loopholes Acts), including introducing a new employee pathway for eligible casual employees to attain permanent employment, "same job same pay", and minimum standard setting powers for the Fair Work Commission (FWC) regarding "employee-like" workers.
MEAA contends that there are a number of provisions introduced by the Closing Loopholes Acts that - if recommendations made by the ACTU in its submissions were accepted - would operate more effectively.
One matter in particular - provisions concerning minimum standards for "employee-like" workers - is an area which should be not improved (as discussed in the ACTU's submissions), but extended.
