South Australia has a proud history of nation-leading reforms.
But, SA workers are missing out on workplace rights the rest of the country gets…
The Commonwealth Government recently took decisive action to ‘close the loopholes’ in Australia’s industrial relations system. These federal reforms were designed to ensure that workers in modern workplaces have the rights they need while preventing practices that intentionally undercut pay and conditions.
However, thousands of South Australian workers are being left in the dust. Because the federal ‘closing loopholes’ changes only apply to those covered by the national industrial system, a huge gap has opened. For those covered by South Australia’s state-based system, the loopholes remain wide open.
While the rest of the country moves forward, South Australian workplace laws remain stagnant. The State Government must fast-track the best reforms from the national system to bridge this gap and ensure every local worker is protected by the same high standards.
At a time when talented workers enjoy more mobility than ever before, South Australia needs to be leading the nation in how we look after workers and help them get ahead.
Where other states and territories have already forged ahead with reforms which boost local jobs and keep workers safe, South Australia needs to catch up.
We must also seize the opportunity to lead by listening to workers and introducing Australia-first reforms which would make South Australia the best place in the country to work.
SA UNION’S RECOMMENDATIONS
SAME JOB, SAME PAY
Ban the labour hire loophole.
If a worker does the same job as a permanent employee, they must receive the same pay, no more undercutting wages through outsourcing.
CLOSE THE GENDER PAY GAP
Eliminate technical barriers that strip parents of their leave.
Every South Australian parent deserves secure, accessible support regardless of their employment structure.
DELIVER PAID REPRODUCTIVE LEAVE
Support health at every stage.
Provide 10 days of paid reproductive health leave for workers to manage reproductive health, including IVF, menopause, and preventive screenings.
RIGHT TO DISCONNECT
Give workers the legal power to switch off.
Workers deserve to reclaim their personal time without the pressure to monitor and reply to emails or calls after hours.
VALUE FOR MONEY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
Enforce a Secure Local Jobs Code.
Taxpayer dollars should only flow to ethical businesses that prove they provide safe, secure, and well-paid local jobs.
PAY YOUNG WORKERS A LIVING WAGE
Treat adults as adults.
Abolish discriminatory junior pay rates for those over 18 and lift apprentice wages to ensure learning a trade is a viable career path.
LIMIT FIXED-TERM CONTRACTS
Stop the cycle of rolling insecurity.
Limit back-to-back temporary contracts to ensure workers can actually plan for their future with permanent, secure jobs.
SUPPORT INJURED GIG WORKERS
Extend ReturnToWorkSA protections to the gig economy.
No worker should be forced to carry the total financial burden of a workplace injury alone.
South Australian workers are being left behind. While federal reforms have closed industrial loopholes for much of the country, thousands of locals covered by our state system remain unprotected.
We are calling on the State Government to bridge this gap and ensure South Australia is the best place in the country to work. Public money must support ethical employers who provide safe, secure, and well-paid local jobs.
By signing this petition, you are demanding:
- Same Job, Same Pay: End the labour hire loophole.
- Secure Local Jobs Code: Prioritise taxpayer funding for ethical local businesses.
- Modern Protections: Introduce paid reproductive leave and the Right to Disconnect.
- Fairer Wages: Lift apprentice pay and abolish junior rates for those over 18.
- Greater Security: Limit rolling fixed-term contracts and protect gig workers.
Invest in secure local jobs. Sign the petition to protect South Australian workers.