FED: Beazley proud of youth wages deal with govt

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-1999
FED: Beazley proud of youth wages deal with govt

CANBERRA, Aug 25 AAP - Opposition Leader Kim Beazley today said he was proud of a
compromise deal with the government that would allow employers to extend junior wages rates.

The opposition is set to outrage the ACTU by agreeing on government legislation that will
preserve lower rates of pay based on age.

"I believe we are on the verge of rescuing the umpire and the safety net for the young
people of Australia on the issue of youth wages," Mr Beazley told journalists.

"I believe that everything we said in our response to the ... Industrial Relations
Commission (IRC) report on the issue of youth wages we'll achieve and that (Workplace
Relations Minister Peter) Mr Reith will not be able to pursue further his determination to
mandate irrespective of the merits of the arguments extensions of youth wages.

"If employers want to extend the principle of youth wages, they're obliged to argue the
case on a case-by-case basis on their merits and not simply have the government give them a
leg up in that process by forcing the IRC to stand aside from its traditional role in that
matter.

"We've also added something else which is very useful indeed: to start to bring into play
formally considerations of skills and training in the development of packages for young people
in this country.

"This is a major advance and we're proud of our achievement in that regard."

The measure would allow Mr Reith to avoid a June 22, 2000 deadline after which current
junior rates would be subjected to anti-discrimination laws.

The introduction of the proposal follows an AIRC inquiry report in June which found
scrapping junior wages without a feasible replacement would result in job losses for young
people.

"Obviously some unions have different points of view on this one," Mr Beazley said.

"The point that I would make is that we have been clear-cut in our response to the umpire's
report."

AAP rmg/was/br

KEYWORD: WAGES BEAZLEY

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