June 2012.pdf - RCSA

international comment
significantly increased if the worker was
engaged in agency work.
What we know is that our industry is
uniquely positioned to balance flexibility with
security for organisations and individuals.
However, we are also committed to social
dialogue and driving social innovation. We
recognise that there needs to be a balanced
approach to appropriate regulation within
the sector to encourage and promote
industry standards and facilitate economic
and social progress however, the ACTU’s
recommendations would not only add
greater levels of red tape to RCSA members
who already have a code of professional
conduct, it would reduce labour market
flexibility and disadvantage many of the
workers that the ACTU seeks to “protect” by
removing the flexibility they currently enjoy
and demand in order to meet work life and
family life balance.
Current perceptions of the industry,
including the ACTU’s, are out of date and
threaten to hinder increased labour market
stability and economic growth, and the
existence of unscrupulous and unethical
agencies is damaging the image of the
whole industry.
Now more than
ever we need
to work
together with
stakeholders
to ensure any
regulatory
framework is
relevant in order
to maximise the
benefits to the
economy,
organisations
and individuals,
while protecting
industry and
workers alike from rogue traders and
unethical practices. This is vital in order to
create an environment in which we can act
as the bridge between the evolving
requirements of business and the capabilities
of individuals. We also need to take action to
change the perception our industry has in
some sectors and demonstrate that the
industry can offer tremendous value to
government and businesses, facilitating
economic growth by providing training and
development in line with economic
requirements during a period of structural
change. With genuine dialogue between all
stakeholders we can work together towards
the common goal of increasing labour market
participation and productivity in Australia and
New Zealand.
For a full copy of the Ciett Report go to
www.rcsa.com.au>Tools & Resources>Ciett.
18
RCSA JOURNAL