Print industry employers’ association PVCA is waiting for the detail on the contentious change to the status of casuals in employment law, but says it will urge members to push back against it, if the reported changes are indeed put into the bill.

Tony Burke, minister for Employment and Workplace Relations in the Albanese government, says casuals need to have the right to become permanent employees if they have received regular rostered hours for just six months. At present the legislation allows conversion on 12 months. Burke has signalled that the amendments will be introduced by the end of the year.

The print industry uses large numbers of casuals, given the peaks and troughs nature of the business, and PVCA says the existing situation provides both protection for workers and flexibility for businesses.

Charles Watson, policy, IR and governance manager at PVCA, said, “There are enough protections for casuals in the current legislation. Amending it will muddy the waters, and make it difficult for print business, most of whom do not have their own HR departments, to manage the changes."

Watson says the legislation is unnecessary as, "There would be very few, if any, print businesses that are not currently doing the right thing by casuals.”

PVCA says the motivation for moving to a six-month crossover is flawed, and will leave printers guessing on whether it is worth it or not. It says workloads can vary dramatically over a year.

Watson said, “Small business needs the...

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