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6 April 2006

NEW THREAT TO OUTWORKERS 


Following its successful lobbying of the Australian Government to amend the WorkChoices Bill to protect outworkers in the clothing and textile industry, Fairwear is again calling on its supporters to write to Members of Parliament about the proposed Independent Contractor Legislation and the Award Rationalisation Process. What is proposed is seen to undermine the hard won protections for a very vulnerable group of workers.

Fairwear is concerned that if outworkers are re-classified as independent contractors they can legally be required to enter into contracts for wages as little as $3 to $4 an hour. Fairwear is also concerned about changes that could mean the current monitoring mechanisms to protect outworkers will be made ineffective and the ability of unions to act on behalf of exploited outworkers will be severely impaired.

For a detailed summary of the impacts of these changes and sample letters that can be sent to the relevant politicians see the above website.

In the meantime, the ongoing campaign to encourage manufacturers behind prominent fashion labels to sign up to the Homeworkers Code of Practice continues to bear fruit. Following the institution of legal proceedings against 25 companies that were failing to meet the minimum conditions required under the Outworker clauses of the Federal Clothing Award, more companies have decided to seek accreditation to the Homeworker’s Code of Practice.

Companies yet to sign up who are currently being targeted by Fairwear include Ojay, Pilgrim, Rich and Scanlon & Theodore among others. A list of accredited companies and of those companies resisting accreditation, together with information about the ongoing campaign can be found here


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