Employer lobby group targets retail and fast-food penalty rates, again

Industry Group set on taking away penalty rates for retail and fast-food workers

Australian Industry Group has unfairly targeted penalty rates for retail and fast-food workers says SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas.

Calls from the Australian Industry Group chief executive to cut penalty rates so that businesses can open on the weekends has ignored the fact that many businesses are open and trading on weekends and paying their employees the appropriate rate of pay.

“Mr Willox needs to get out the weekends more.

“Thousands of retail and fast-food businesses already trade every weekend and those workers are receiving penalty rates,” said Peter.

The SDA is incredibly concerned by Mr Willox’s suggestion that nurses and firemen should be paid penalty rates but not retail, fast-food or restaurant workers.

“Why should nurses and firemen receive fair compensation for working unsociable hours but not retail and fast-food workers who need and rely on penalty rates?”

“If employers want to reduce penalty rates, the mechanism to do that is through Enterprise Bargaining, not unilaterally reducing wages without giving their employees a say,” said Peter.

It is the SDA’s firm position that workers deserve a higher rate of pay for working at unsociable times such as late nights, weekends and public holidays.