Workplace Relations & WHS
SA has the highest unemployment rate in the nation.
There are opportunities for more workplace relations reform, particularly for small business.
Greater flexibility required in our workplace relations system
Despite some fluctuations in its ranking over the most recent reporting periods, South Australia currently has the highest unemployment in the nation. We need a workplace relations system that allows for flexibility and can drive productivity to allow businesses to grow and thrive, creating future job opportunities for South Australians.
We are also a small business state with 97.5 per cent of local businesses classified as small businesses employing less than 20 people. It is important that small businesses are given the capacity to reach individual agreements, departing from the relevant award or enterprise agreement, with an appropriate safety net to ensure the employee is not disadvantaged.
The South Australian Business Chamber was involved in the recent Productivity Commission inquiry into Australia’s workplace relations framework. We supported the suggested reforms to penalty rates, Individual Flexibility Agreements, unfair dismissal laws and the proposed Enterprise Contract. These potential changes are all steps in the right direction and will allow small business some of the flexibility they need to manage and operate their business.
There still remain areas of the workplace relations system that need fundamental reform, for example, the complexity and restrictions in the Modern Awards system remains a major barrier for small business.
If you’d like to get in touch with our Policy and Advocacy Team, please submit an online enquiry and one of our staff will get back in touch with you.
South Australia's Most Definitive Report on Business Confidence
One of South Australia's most influential and important business publications, the quarterly Business Now report contains detailed findings from a survey of South Australian businesses.
The June Quarter 2024 found that SA businesses are too focused on their battle to stay afloat to invest in measures that might improve productivity.
See June ResultsWorkplace Relations and WHS Publications
Policy and Advocacy Lead
Kendall Crowe
General Manager, Policy, Advocacy and International Services
Contact our Policy and Advocacy team
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