Exchange Rate and Labour Market Changes? Government should come clean

The CTU has reacted to comments made by the Prime Minister this morning that the Government is looking at labour market 'reform' as an option to address the high exchange rate.

Peter Conway, CTU Secretary, said that it appears the Government is positioning to launch further attacks on work rights which will reduce the ability to bargain for better wages.

"We have been increasingly concerned that the Government has abandoned any attempt to build a 'high wage, high skill, high value economy' and instead is advocating for a 'competitive' economy based in part on weakened rights for workers."

Peter Conway said the Government should come clean on these changes rather than hint at them in response to further volatility in the exchange rate.

"Alternative measures from the Reserve Bank to directly control use of credit, restrictions on bank reliance on overseas funds, and moves to a pegged exchange rate against a basket of currencies are the sorts of measures the Government should be exploring, not further attacks on work rights."

ENDS

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