Ken O'Dowd MP

4 days ago

The independent Fair Work Commission recently decided a person employed as a ‘regular casual employee’ may request that their employment be converted to full-time or part-time, if they have been working regular hours for a 12 month period.

This was based on support and evidence from employers and unions like the CFMEU, but only covered 75 per cent of casuals in the workforce.

The Government is extending it through legislation, so that any casual employee may request that their employment be converted to full-time or part-time. After our change approximately 2 million casuals will be able to request this from their boss.

Previously casuals could informally ask their employers for a part time or full time role. These changes formalise that request and ensure that employers can only refuse a request on reasonable grounds. The Fair Work Commission will also be able to review this.

The Government will now consult on the legislation in the normal manner, and intends to introduce it to the Parliament in early 2019.

It is incorrect to say that casuals have been increasing. The percentage of employees who are casuals has been relatively steady over the last two decades. As at August 2018, 24.6 per cent of employees were casual (approximately 2.6 million employees), compared with a peak of 25.5 per cent in 2004. ... See MoreSee Less