(Transcript from World News Radio)
A review of Australia's industrial award system is underway, sparking alarm from unions about the potential impact on pay and conditions.
But the federal government says it's hoping the review by the Fair Work Commission will result in changes that help employers cope with new economic circumstances.
Aileen Phillips has the details.
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In its submission to the Fair Work Commission, the federal government says awards need to reflect what it calls the impact on employers of a softening economic environment and labour market.
The government asks the Commission to consider the impact on employers of having to pay penalty rates - that is, extra pay for working nights, early mornings, or weekends.
However, unions claim the government is putting undue pressure on the Commission.
President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Ged Kearney, says the only interpretation of the government's submission is that the most vulnerable and lowest-paid workers in the country will suffer.
"Australian workers can have absolutely no doubt where Tony Abbott and his government stands to workers and social services in this country. The federal government put a submission in to the Fair Work Commission absolutely undermining our basic awards system, which means it will open the way for workers to lose very basic rights like penalty rates."
Ged Kearney says the Commission had previously rejected employers' attacks on penalty rates because there was no evidence of a negative impact on employment or profits.
And she says if changes are made to award conditions, migrant workers will be among those worst affected.
"I think our migrant communities will be very much over represented for those workers on the award who Tony Abbott is actually trying to attack right now by undermining those very basic award conditions. I think our migrant communities have a great deal to worry about."
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has labelled the government's submission to the Commission as "radical".
He says millions of workers could be left worse off.
"Penalty rates aren't going to the big end of town. These are people who require that extra money when they work the unsual shifts, the family pressuring shifts away from their family. They deserve to at least expect that their government doesn't have their hand in the pocket of ordinary workers trying to take away their conditions. Prime Minister Abbott has no idea how millions of people earn their pay."
But the federal government is defending its submission to the Commisson, accusing unions of running a scare campaign.
Parliamentary Secretary Josh Frydenberg told Sky News, all the government wants is an awards system that is less complex and confusing.
"We need to take into account the cost to business and also the inflationary impacts because we want to create lots of new jobs. We don't want to price labour out of the market so to speak. If we are going to get a situation where people can take risks as entrepreneurs, can employ new people, then we need to have a wages market that is balanced, that is not down one end of the pendulum."
ACTU president Ged Kearney says its focus throughout the review process will be keeping workers' rights intact.
"We are fighting for extra protection for casual workers, because we know casual workers do not get sick leave, they do not get holiday pay, they can't get a loan, they have very insecure lives. So we are fighting for better protection for them. We are also fighting for better protection for women in the workforce ensuring they have time to care for their children without risking their jobs, or to care for elderly relatives without risking their jobs. Also, for women who are subject to domestic violence. We would like to see them get some protection in the workplace with access to special leave."
The initial stage of the review process will determine the scope of the review and any legislative issues.
Further stages will look at specific issues in relation to about 30 awards.
