Australia makes worst workplace laws list
by ABConline via rialator - ABC News Monday, Jun 4 2007, 8:24am
international / human rights / other press

Australia's workplace laws will be studied by an international legal committee this week, after a UN agency included them on a list of the world's 25 worst labour regimes.

The president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Sharan Burrow, has been lobbying the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to include Australia on the list.

"The rest of the eyes of the world are on Australia," she said.

"Yes, I listed the case and I've certainly lobbied to see it there, but I can assure you that it didn't take much convincing.

"People know that if Australian workers don't have rights then their country can be next."

Ms Burrow denies she is deliberately trying to tarnish the laws before an election.

She says they deserve their place on the list.

"It's a scrutiny, in this case a legal scrutiny," she said.

"Australia is not a country that should be making any excuses about denying working Australians basic working rights."

© 2007 ABC

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1942315.htm