Gillard promises changes to Fair Work Act

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has promised changes to the Fair Work Act to improve living standards and working conditions of people in insecure jobs, in an unfolding story reported by abc.net.au.

Ms Gillard made the announcement during a speech to an Australian Council of Trade Union summit about job security in Canberra this morning - Thursday, 14 March 2013.

She says her Government will insert a new modern awards objective into the Fair Work Act.

She says it will ensure penalty rates, shift loadings and public holiday pay are considered by the Fair Work Commission when it sets award rates and conditions.

"We will make it clear in law that there needs to be additional remuneration for employees who work shift work, unsociable, irregular, unpredictable hours or on weekends and public holidays," she said.

Ms Gillard also defended her Government's tightening of the rules for 457 visas.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said earlier that Ms Gillard has lost touch with what is needed to enforce immigration laws. He went on to say:

"I find it staggering that the Prime Minister would be less concerned in her policy approach to cracking down on illegal boat arrivals which are running at two-thirds higher than what they were last year, and yet has singled out skilled migrants coming to Australia in the information and communications technology sector, where the number of people coming on 457s this year has actually fallen."

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