The Federal Government has laid out new rules to help employers get the workers they need, in an approach that wields a big stick but not a lot of carrots.
Upheaval of industries as a result of the pandemic sees employers around the country reporting problems finding serious applicants for jobs, with hospitality one of the worst affected due to the high level of casual and temporary workers involved.
Australia’s pandemic JobSeeker support, currently coming with payment above the regular unemployment benefits, will be terminated late March and replaced with the new system, which aims to continue to provide a safety net for people who need and are entitled to benefits, while stopping those possibly rorting the system.
Employment website Jobstar cites figures of “over fifty per cent of applicants” having no intention of working.
These would-be applicants are said to be providing employers with false contact information, failing to show up for interviews, deciding a job does not suit them after all, or taking on a job and resigning soon after – the implication being that many would prefer to stay on unemployment benefits.
Last week several key changes were announced for the social security system.
From April, there will be a $50 increase to the JobSeeker fortnightly base rate, but with stronger obligations for recipients of this and Youth Allowance.
Although suspended during the pandemic, face-to-face appointments are being reinstated.
From 21 April, recipients must undertake 15 job searches per month. From the start of July this increases further, to 20.
If someone remains on benefits for six months, new training and work experience requirements will be triggered, to enhance skills.
And significantly, if an applicant declines a job, the employer will be able to contact the department of employment to ‘dob in’ the job-dodger.
“If someone does apply for a job, they’re offered the job and they’re qualified for the job but they say no, the employer will now be able to contact my department and report that person,” says Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.
The principle is intended to weed out those who choose not to work, with the department saying “they will be breached” if they do not have a valid reason for declining the work, and will no longer be provided with taxpayer support.
Speaking off the record to PubTIC, some pub groups have joined other small businesses in expressing concern over the government’s new hotline and “big stick” approach, suggesting unwilling workers are never going to be good workers – particularly in hospitality.
But others have seen potential benefit in the threat, hoping it will increase the percentage of workers genuinely interested in working the many shifts in venues remaining unfilled.
