August Advocacy News

 

Recent Consultations

On-Demand Workforce Economy KPMG Consultation: 16 August 2023

An Australian first – the Victorian Government has brought its focus to ‘non-employee, on-demand workers’.  The intention is to provide Fair Conduct and Accountability Standards in the ‘Gig-Economy’ with the vision of adjusting the power imbalance between platforms and their workers.  

 There are six standards being focused on:  

  1. Consultation about work status and arrangements
  2. Consideration of parties’ leverage and bargaining power
  3. Fair conditions and pay, including gender pay equality 
  4. Fair and transparent independent dispute resolution 
  5. Worker representation, including the ability to seek better work arrangements 
  6. Safety.   

MEA is partaking in, and monitoring, these consultations with concerns that the electrical contracting industry will get swept into the regulated gig-economy.  MEA has voiced that the gig-economy is not a prevalent means of engagement for our members and stressed the existing high-entry barriers into the industry.  Our members who are working on-demand are not being paid to provide a service through a platform, but rather to complete a task for clients through traditional sub-contracting, labor hire and casual employment, which should not be covered by the proposed standards.  

It is our position that the Electrical Industry is to remain unaffected by the proposed regulations as they trespass into territories of employment law and away from commercial law. 

 

Advocacy on the Move

Middy’s Electrical Adelaide Industry Information night   

Chris represented Master Electricians Australia at Middy’s Electrical Industry Information Night in Adelaide. He presented on standards, trends and innovations in the sector.

Busy A. High School visit 

Chris and Georgia spoke to a group of VET stream students at Cleveland Busy A. High School, emphasising the value of a career in electrotechnology and the skills needed for electrical apprenticeships.

Australian Industry Trade College

Chris presented to year 11-12 students specializing in electrotechnology at Spring Hill’s Australian Industry Trade College.

 

Upcoming Events

The future of cooking – The transition from gas to induction

From gas to induction cooktop – why, how and does it affect your cooking?

Date: Thu 7th Sep 2023, 7:00 pm – 8:45 pm

Location: RMIT University – Cinema in Building 80, 435-457 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

This event is organised by the volunteers of the Melbourne Renew Members’ Branch

Join Chris Lehmann and other industry speakers as they delve into the details of transitioning from gas to induction cookers. Attendees will be made aware of the health benefits, be given knowledge about the likely modifications and costs, and have their questions answered about induction cooking.

Find out more and get your free ticket here.