Occupational Health & Safety and Workers' Compensation

Tougher policing of imports described as asbestos free is urgently needed by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, the ACTU said yesterday. As shown on the ABC's 7.30 program earlier this week, and the subject of Union concerns over a long period, the inadequacy of importation controls, especially those…

The ASU has been liaising with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) about submissions and consultations for the National Review on Pregnancy and Return to Work. We will be making a submission to the Review and we need your help to give them the real picture of what is going…

Over half-a-million workers injured and thousands killed each year in Australia shows we need to strengthen not weaken workplace safety regulation, say unions. Data shows 600,000 workers are injured – 127,000 of those seriously – costing Australia more than $60 billion annually. ACTU President Ged Kearney said: "This raises serious…

ACTU condemns the Queensland government's proposed amendments to the Work Health and Safety Laws which will put worker's lives at risk and take the heat off employers who choose to cut corners on safety. ACTU Assistant Secretary Michael Borowick said, "These proposed amendments will put all workers at risk, not…

The ACTU welcomes new funding from the Federal Government to tackle deaths from asbestos exposure with $6.4 million to go to the new Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency to implement the National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management. ACTU Assistant Secretary Michael Borowick said Australia had the highest per…

The ACTU has called for proposed Codes of Practice on workplace bullying to be strengthened and combined with regulation which makes it a responsibility of employers to provide a bullying-free workplace. ACTU president Ged Kearney said that workplace bullying caused long-term mental and emotional damage to victims and cost the…

Changes to workplace laws that recently passed the Parliament will make it easier, faster and cheaper for victims of bullying at work to have it stopped. Unfortunately, these provisions do not take effect until 1 January 2014. It is not known if there is an Abbott Government after the next…

The Napthine Government must put the safety of Victorians ahead of politics and sign up to a national plan designed to get rid of asbestos over the next two decades, the ACTU said today. ACTU Assistant Secretary Michael Borowick said Victoria's refusal to co-operate with the national Asbestos Safety and…

Major retail companies behind the global Bangladesh Fire and Safety Accord showed their commitment to improving the lives of Bangladeshi garment workers at the kick-off meeting. At the meeting held at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, the companies alongside IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union agreed to immediately move…

Labour rights groups push brands to sign agreement before deadline of 15 May Over one million people have signed petitions calling for brands sourcing from Bangladesh to sign the legally-binding Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh immediately. UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings: “The Accord is a…