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Over recent years too many businesses have closed or reduced employment on Sundays or Public Holidays because of the cost of penalty rates.
The Fair Work Commission‘s (FWC) decision to reform Sunday and Public Holiday penalty rates is a first step towards a modern day tourism and hospitality industry, the Australian Hotels Associationsaid.
AHA and Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) led the submissions to the FWC on behalf of the hotel sector – TAA is chaired by the Hon Martin Ferguson AM, a former ACTU President and Federal Tourism Minister.
Mr Ferguson said the FWC decision should be respected.
“From the industry point of view we haven’t got everything we want. That is the nature of the Fair Work Commission.
“We respect their decision and we will try and make it work.
“For us the objective was to modernise the award, not to abolish penalty rates, but to make it relevant to the 21st century as a means of employing more Australians.
“The hospitality and accommodation sector is seen as an industry with tremendous potential to deliver results and jobs for the Australian economy.
“We are currently experiencing the largest-ever expansion of accommodation hotels across the country, so it is imperative that workplace reforms support this growth phase.”
AHA CEO Stephen Ferguson said the AHA supports workers being remunerated extra for working on weekends and public holidays.
“Society and work patterns have changed significantly in 50 years,” Mr Stephen Ferguson said.
“Today people expect to be able to shop, buy a meal or a drink at all hours of the day, while large numbers of workers actually prefer to work outside a ‘9 to 5’ weekday regime because it suits their lifestyle, studies or family circumstances.
“Over recent years too many businesses have closed or reduced employment on Sundays or Public Holidays because of the cost of penalty rates. That is bad for workers, bad for business and bad for the general public.”
Photo caption: Mr Martin Ferguson AM, a former ACTU President and Federal Tourism Minister
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
