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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-11-25 Daily Xml
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RETAIL SECTOR

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (15:00): My question is to the Leader of the Government and Minister for Industrial Relations. Will the minister provide the chamber with details of the education and compliance activities in the retail sector conducted by SafeWork SA?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:00): As members were made aware earlier this month, the Hon. Tammy Franks raised concerns about workers in the retail industry, particularly young workers. I would like to take this opportunity to inform members of the work this government is doing to educate and ensure compliance in the retail industry.

From 1 January 2010, the South Australian government referred certain industrial relations powers to the commonwealth. This means that from the beginning of this year the full private sector in South Australia—including non-government community services, private schools and universities—is now covered by the commonwealth Fair Work Act 2009. To assist South Australian employers and workers transitioning to the national system, the government has entered into a contractual arrangement with the Fair Work Ombudsman from January this year to provide a range of education, information and compliance services.

SafeWork SA inspectors have the capacity to investigate allegations such as those raised by the honourable member in their capacity as Fair Work Inspectors. The government, through the efforts of SafeWork SA, is currently collaborating with the Fair Work Ombudsman as part of the Shared Industry Assistance Program, which will deliver information and education sessions in key metropolitan and regional shopping precincts for the South Australian retail industry. The focus of the education and information sessions includes the Retail Industry Modern Awards as well as other key rights and obligations in the workplace. The requirements for keeping time and wage records will also be covered.

The information and education sessions will begin by the end of this month and finish in early January 2011. They will be held in six major shopping centres in metropolitan Adelaide as well as surrounding retailers. SafeWork SA has structured the content and timing of the informative presentations to be unobtrusive and suit the requirements of small to medium retailers, taking into consideration the busy Christmas shopping period. SafeWork SA's Fair Work Inspectors are now currently visiting more than 200 small businesses along metropolitan shopping streets and precincts as well as country areas to provide them with specific information related to the introduction of the Modern General Retail Industry Award 2010.

In addition to this, SafeWork SA's Fair Work Inspectors are also in the process of auditing 220 employers in the food industry along major streets and shopping precincts in Adelaide as well as a number in country regions to ensure compliance. SafeWork SA will also be participating in a national retail audit being conducted by the Fair Work Ombudsman in the first half of 2011. This audit has three phases, with education sessions being conducted through to January 2011. The actual audit will begin in February and finish in April 2011 with a final analysis and report being completed by mid-2011.

Many young workers usually land their first job in the retail and fast food industries. Considering this, SafeWork SA will be conducting more than 40 education and awareness sessions in public and private schools, TAFEs and universities in the first quarter of 2011. SafeWork SA inspectors will provide a presentation designed specifically for students as they transition from education to employment. The presentation includes advice to young workers on industrial matters, including keeping records of employment such as payslips, starting and finishing times, meal breaks, overtime, tax file number declaration forms, training contracts, payroll deductions, and uniform allowances.

In addition, inspectors will focus on the elements of the fast food industry and the general retail industry modern awards dealing with lawful and unlawful payroll deductions, and the requirement for employers to provide and maintain, without cost to the employee, any protective clothing or special clothing such as uniform, dress or other clothing as well as the employer's obligations to pay employees laundering and other allowances. I trust that answers those questions that have been raised previously in relation to the activities of SafeWork SA in relation to the education and compliance activities of the retail sector.

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