5 May 2015

Parliament workers on zero-hour contracts

The Government must take urgent action and insist the contractor who employs workers at Parliament on zero-hour contracts end these unfair work arrangements, Labour Leader Andrew Little says.

“Speaker David Carter has confirmed in his reply to questions from Labour that nine staff are employed in the Parliamentary Precinct on zero-hour contracts.

“Labour understands the contractor is the Australian cleaning and catering giant Spotless.

“Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse has said he will outlaw these nasty employment practises. Yet they are going on right under his nose – literally – the workers that prepare and serve him his meals.

“There are now 18,000 fast food workers who are no longer subject to zero-hour contracts following public outrage. If these massive companies can quickly adapt, then there is no reason Parliament can’t.

“I am today writing the Speaker to express my utmost concern about the vulnerable work conditions of these nine workers and will discuss it with him at a meeting tonight,” Andrew Little says.

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