BHP Billiton submits recommendations to Productivity Commission

BHP Billiton has provided a submission to the Productivity Commission as it considers improvements to the workplace relations framework in Australia.

The submission includes recommendations for enhancements to the workplace relations framework that would allow employers and employees to more effectively work together to support improvements to productivity and competiveness in the Australian economy.

BHP Billiton said that reform should focus on:

• Implementing current amendments to the Fair Work Act, which are before the Parliament on right of entry provisions and agreement provisions for ‘greenfield’ sites.
• Ensuring that the Fair Work Act restricts enterprise agreement content to terms of employment only and not operational matters that limit productivity improvements.
• Truly supporting an employee’s choice of representation and equally enabling both non-union and union streams of enterprise bargaining.
• Providing greater access to relief for employers where industrial action is taken and ensuring that protected industrial action is only available as a last resort.
• Amending the Fair Work Act provisions about adverse action to restore the limit on such claims to matters of victimisation due to union membership status or activity.

BHP Billiton said that it would also encourage the Productivity Commission to facilitate a discussion on what is required to ensure the regulatory framework evolves to keep pace with other jurisdictions and to ensure enhanced employment outcomes for the Australian nation in the long-term.

Mike Henry, BHP Billiton President - Coal, said: “BHP Billiton invests in major industrial infrastructure and equipment that is able to operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

“Achieving a safe and productive return on this significant investment is enabled by an appropriate workplace relations framework. In turn, the successful conduct of its operations allows BHP Billiton to contribute strongly to the Australian economy.”

Edited from various press release by Joseph Green

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/30032015/bhp-billiton-submits-recommendations-to-productivity-commission-2125-/