Vic: Vic employment watchdog to investigate Work Choices

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2007
Vic: Vic employment watchdog to investigate Work Choices

MELBOURNE, Feb 15 AAP - Victoria's new employment watchdog has launched an inquiry
into the effect of the federal government's industrial relations (IR) reforms on the state's
retail and hospitality sector.

Victorian workplace rights advocate Tony Lawrence said today the inquiry would target
the two industry sectors that had seen a rapid rollout of Australian Workplace Agreements
(AWA).

"Both industries contain a diverse range of employers, employ a significant number
of employees and contribute substantially to the Victorian economy," Mr Lawrence told
reporters in Melbourne.

"The number of AWAs in these two industries now surpasses the number of AWAs in the
mining industry which has traditionally led the field since AWAs were introduced."

Mr Lawrence said an inquiry was timely because the first-year anniversary of the Work
Choices reforms would fall in March.

He said hearings would be held around the state, the inquiry would take submissions
from unions, employer groups and affected workers, and a report would be released by early
August.

AAP dr/szp/gfr/it/cdh

KEYWORD: WORKCHOICES VIC

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.