Retail groups have welcomed the Federal Government’s proposed changes to employment awards, but Shadow Small Business Minister Steven Ciobo says they are “a disaster” for small business.
Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard has asked the Industrial Relations Commission to change Sunday penalty rates for retail workers over five years, in order to ensure the new awards do not discourage overtime opportunities.
Margy Osmond from the Australian National Retailers Association said she is pleased the Government has recognized the need for change. However, Ciobo said the Government is constantly making adjustments to the awards modernisation legislation, making it even more difficult for small businesses to understand.
“These changes might well have been welcomed by the big end of town, but clearly not by small business which is less financially and logistically equipped to deal with such huge changes,” he said.
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