Media Release
4 April 2008
Master Builders Calls for Greater Flexibility in the New
National Employment Standards
Statement by Mr Wilhelm Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer
Australia’s peak building and construction industry association, Master Builders Australia, has
expressed concern that any restrictions imposed by changes in flexible workplace arrangements will
have negative impacts on productivity in the building industry.
Master Builders has called for the Government to guarantee flexibility in employment standards in its
submission on the draft National Employment Standards that will be at the centre of the Government’s
new workplace relations laws.
Wilhelm Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Master Builders Australia, said: “Workplace reform has
given the industry increased efficiencies, productivity gains and growth in building workers’ wages that
has outpaced other sectors by more than double.
“Master Builders and its members want flexibilities, especially about hours, in the new standards and
this important element of the system should not be left to the Award modernisation process. Without
flexibility, we put productivity gains made in recent years at risk,” he said.
“Employment standards should have some in-built flexibility and contain provisions such as the ability
to average hours and to facilitate pre-agreement about working hours in excess of 38, especially where
the employee is paid for those additional hours worked,” said Mr Harnisch.
“In the past the award system failed completely to provide building industry employers and employees
with flexible working arrangements.
“Awards have historically been instruments of constraint. Master Builders wants to retain the ability of
building workers to work part-time, a matter previously absent from the National Building and
Construction Industry Award.
We would not want to see the return of terms that restrict work
practices,” said Mr Harnisch.
“The building and construction industry has some industry-specific features as well, particularly relating
to long service leave. In every State and Territory there is legislation that provides the majority of
building workers with portable long service leave, so they are rewarded by service to the industry, not
one employer.
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“Master Builders does not want the transferable leave entitlements of thousands of workers put at risk by
a move to a national system of long service leave. Instead, we have recommended that an inquiry be
held in order to examine how the State and Territory schemes specific to our industry could be
harmonised,” said Mr Harnisch.
“The new employment standards expand the statutory safety net. The costs of this expansion must be
quantified by the Government.
“Master Builders has therefore called for a detailed regulatory impact statement to be published in draft
along with draft legislation that is published following comments being received by the Government,”
said Mr Harnisch.
“The consultative process on the NES has been open and refreshing. Master Builders would welcome
another round of consultations.
“There should be a second round of consultations once it is known how much the envisaged laws are
going to cost the taxpayers of Australia.”
Contact: Wilhelm Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer
02 6202 8888/0402 039 039
Richard Calver, National Director Industrial Relations
02 6202 8888/0402 866 766
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