Labour Hire Practices

In reply to the Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (21 September 2018). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I have been advised of the following:

There have been no investigations into labour hire firms by SafeWork SA over the past 12 months. SafeWork SA has undertaken seven inspections (site visits) of labour hire firms over the same period and has also administratively dealt with 18 work health and safety related incidents that did not require an inspection. This included the exchange of information between SafeWork SA and an employer to ensure the employer is complying with their duties and obligations under the work health and safety legislation.

Based on the figures provided for the past 12 months the following concerns were raised in relation to labour hire companies:

three complaints by workers about their long service leave entitlements

nine complaints about inappropriate conduct or bullying

four general safety complaints (drug use in the workplace, manual handling, carrying an unsafe load)

six notifiable dangerous incidents

three notifiable serious injuries.

SafeWork SA is unaware of any phoenixing related complaints and has not witnessed companies engaging in phoenixing.