AUSTRALIA Unions Want Right to Initiate Prosecution of Unsafe Workplaces To Hold Employers Responsible

Thousands of workers recently held protest meetings in Sydney and Melbourne to fight for stronger workplace health and safety laws so that fewer workers are injured or killed. Unions report they are concerned that time is running out to prevent governments from caving in to a big business agenda to cut red tape at the expense of workers’ health and safety. The meetings are part of an urgent attempt by workers and unions to change draft health and safety laws before the public comment period ends November 9.

According to Australia Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Jeff Lawrence, draft laws circulated in September would put workers at risk of lower safety standards. He claims unions were determined to campaign for improvements to the proposed laws to ensure they raised standards, not lowered them.

“A once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift protections for workers by achieving the world’s best safety standards for the entire country is in danger of being missed,” Lawrence said. “As they stand, the draft laws are about taking away protections and rights for workers, rather than lifting the overall standard. We are determined to make sure politicians take notice of workers’ concerns.” (workersxzcompxzkit)

According to Lawrence, unions want to ensure that victims have the right to prosecute and that employers are held responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace. “Unions should be able to initiate prosecutions which lead to improvements in workplace safety,” Lawrence added.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.

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