"The Queensland Government's wage theft bill is an attack on employers at a time when businesses needs support in order to survive through, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.
"The legislation and the term 'wage theft' are not appropriate. The bill addresses wage underpayments – an area already comprehensively dealt with in the Fair Work Act. The legislation is arguably unconstitutional but, in any event, it is inappropriate and unnecessary.
"The Federal Government has established a working party of employer representatives (including Ai Group) and union representatives to consider whether any changes are needed to existing laws dealing with wage underpayments. The Bill should be withdrawn but, at the very least, the Queensland Parliament should allow the working party to complete its consideration of the issues before dealing with the Bill," Mr Willox said.
