Reporting and enforcement vital to new Horticulture Award standard

Changes to the piece rate provisions within the Horticulture Award will ensure that all pieceworkers receive a minimum hourly rate for each hour worked. These changes will set a clear and enforceable standard for employers, and will make identifying non-compliance with the Award simpler for workers, regulatory agencies, unions and supply chain stakeholders."The AFPA has been consistent in calling for clear and enforceable piecework provisions within the Award. To ensure that these changes are enforced, we need to ensure that any non-compliance is addressed by industry stakeholders, the supply chain and a properly resourced Fair Work Ombudsman" said AFPA CEO, Michael Rogers. The changes to the Award were spearheaded by the Australian Workers Union (AWU). The AWU, along with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) form part of the Retail Supply Chain Alliance (RSCA), which recently renewed their Ethical Supply Chain Accord with Coles. "It is pleasing to see the RSCA and Coles renew their commitment to ensuring there are ethical supply chains in the retail sector. A commitment to ethical supply chains means that Coles is committed to only sourcing fresh produce from suppliers that are able to meet a demonstrated standard and that the RSCA is committed to reporting employers that aren't meeting standards. From our perspective, Coles and the RSCA can play a key role in ensuring the new standards in the Award are enforced" said Mr Rogers. The AFPA have been vocal in calling for enforcement of the new piece rate standards and ensuring that there is a level playing field among all producers in terms of compliance. The AFPA continues to call for increased funding to the Fair Work Ombudsman and a robust National Labour Hire Licensing Scheme to support structural changes to the horticulture sector."Regulators like FWO, Australian Border Force and state labour hire licensing authorities have critically important roles in ensuring compliance, however, they are only as good as the information that they receive. In terms of ensuring ethical retail supply chains and compliance with the Award, we continue to encourage the RSCA and Coles to report any allegations of wrong-doing or non-compliance to the relevant regulator" said Mr Rogers. F