‘No rules': Public consultation opens on Victoria's work-from-home laws
Public consultation on the proposed legislation opened Tuesday.
'One of the reasons work from home is at risk is because there are no rules – and workers don't know where they stand,' Premier Jacinta Allan said.
'You can help us get the rules right by having your say.
'If you can do your job from home, we are making it your right – because we're on your side.'
NewsWire understands in promoting the new laws, Victorian Labor leaders are planning to heavily target Peter Dutton's mishandling of the work from home debate during the federal election.
Ms Allan and Industrial Relations Minister Jaclyn Symes aim to introduce a bill to parliament later this year.
They say the reform would 'reflect the real-world experience' of workers and employers, and public consultation aimed to find 'what's fair, what's practical, and what's already working'.
The proposed law would mandate two days of working from home per week 'if you can reasonably do your job from home'.
'Consultation won't determine whether working from home should be a right – we already know it should be. This is about making sure the rules are appropriate,' Ms Allan said.
'Working from home works for families and it's good for the economy.'
Ms Allan is spruiking the reform by citing research showing working from home saved the average family $110 a week.
Public consultations will canvas the types and sizes of businesses which will be covered by the proposed law, the definition of remote work, and who is able to do it.
From Tuesday, employees and employers can have their say on the state government's Engage Victoria website.
From September, peak bodies, unions and other stakeholders will have their chance to present at roundtable consultation meetings.
'So many Victorians rely on work from home, and so many businesses currently have flexible arrangements in place,' Ms Symes said.
'We want to listen to them about what's worked.'
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, opposition upper house leader David Davis said: 'We see the importance of work from home, we see the flexibility, the productivity benefits are pretty clear'.
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