Latest news with #AustralianCouncilOfTradeUnions
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Push for new levy to boost tradie apprentice numbers amid major 'collapse': 'Living off $600 a week'
Australian unions have launched a fresh push to revive the National Training Guarantee, a levy formerly imposed on businesses in the 1990s to boost employee training. It's hoped the move will provide a 'much-needed reboot' for apprenticeships in Australia, which have been bleeding numbers as many tradies struggle with the low wages on offer. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) said the levy would compel medium to large employers to contribute to the cost of training workers. It argued this would help develop the higher-skilled workforce needed to boost national productivity. The previous scheme, which ran from 1990 to 1994, imposed a levy of 1.5 per cent of payroll on businesses with an annual turnover above $500,000, unless they spent the same amount on work-related training. RELATED Apprentice tradie forced to work 85 hours a week as dire pay issue exposed Little-known Centrelink perk offers Australian students free flights Massive Subway queue exposes urgent Australian job trend as numbers hit record levels Only half of all apprentices complete their training, with some saying low wages were pushing them to drop out. Aidan Garcia told Yahoo Finance it has been impossible to live off his $600 per week mechanic apprentice wage. He has been working two extra jobs and said he was working 85 hours a week at one stage. "It does make you second-guess the apprenticeship," he said, sharing that he had been close to dropping out several times. "Most of the people I know either had second jobs or would just be scraping the bottom of the barrel.' ACTU assistant secretary Liam O'Brien said the guarantee worked in the 1990s to boost work-related training and argued it should be 'on the table' when looking at policies to lift productivity. 'A higher-skilled workforce leads to higher productivity. The demands of a modern economy driven by an energy transition, industrial diversification and significant technological innovation will require a deeper investment in skills and education underpinned by an approach of lifelong learning," he said. The ACTU said the move would also address dwindling apprenticeship and training numbers in Australia. 'We also need to address the collapse of apprentice commencements and completions,' O'Brien said. 'Alongside paying and supporting apprentices better, more investment in training will help reduce the skills shortage that is holding back further economic growth.' O'Brien noted that many apprentices received sub-par or non-existent supervision and training while on the job. The ACTU said it would be taking the proposal to the government's upcoming Economic Reform Roundtable. Half of Aussie apprentices dropping out Data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) found the trade apprenticeship commencements dropped by 13.9 per cent in December 2024 compared to the year prior, with the biggest drops among construction and automotive and engineering workers. NCVER managing director John King said people may be declining or deferring training in some trades and entering the workforce directly. 'We may also be seeing the ongoing impact of cost-of-living pressures on both businesses and individuals, making it harder to attract and retain apprentices,' said Mr King. Completions in trade occupations did see a noticeable increase, up 8.4 per cent in the December quarter compared to the same period last year. Construction and electrotechnology and telco trades workers saw the biggest rise in completions. $10,000 incentives for tradies The government announced a $10,000 incentive for apprentices to finish their training, which would be paid out in instalments, ahead of the federal election. It applies to apprentices including bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and joiners. The $10,000 was welcomed by the ACTU and industry groups like the Housing Industry Association and Master Builders Australia at the time. HIA managing director Jocelyn Martin said incentive payments were a key piece to addressing skills shortages and completion rates, but they were just one piece of the puzzle. 'Retention rates are also much better for apprentices through industry based mentoring programs, including group training organisations, where pastoral care is a key aspect. Mentors can offer support and guidance to young people entering the workforce," she said. 'We need to attract more people to careers in the construction industry, we need to ensure that there are enough employers creating the employment opportunities and providing the on-site work experience, and we need well-resourced VET providers delivering high quality training."Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
News.com.au
04-08-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Unions back explosive new crackdown on property tax breaks
Tax perks for landlords with multiple homes could soon be scrapped under explosive new reforms backed by Australia's unions. In a bombshell move that could shake the property and political establishment, the Australian Council of Trade Unions has backed sweeping tax reforms aimed at breaking the housing affordability deadlock that's locking out a generation of working Aussies. The ACTU – which represents almost 2m workers – warned the current tax system gives unfair advantages to wealthy investors, locking everyday Australians out of home ownership and pushing up rents and housing prices across the country. Broke to $100m: 34yo now has 158 Aus homes The bold reform would see a cull of tax breaks for property investors who own more than one home. ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus, said 'working people can no longer afford to live near where they work and young people are locked out of the housing market and locked into high rents.' 'It's just not right and has to change,' she warned. 'Tax rules around investment properties means investments that could be made in making Australia more productive and growing our economy are locked up in housing.' 'We cannot continue down the same path of giving investors tax supports while owning your own home gets further out of reach for average workers and becomes nearly unimaginable for young people.' 'Limiting negative gearing and capital gains discounts to one investment property, alongside increasing supply will make a big difference.' She said 'people who have made these investments should also be given some time to adjust'. 'Super creepy': Mysterious 'old haunted house' for sale The move comes ahead of this month's Economic Reform Roundtable, with the ACTU to argue that negative gearing housing tax breaks and capital gains tax discounts should be restricted to a single investment property, instead of favouring those with multiple properties, which is locking workers out of the housing market. All current negative gearing and capital gains tax housing tax arrangements would be grandfathered for five years to give property investors time to adjust to the new single investment property tax limits. Here's the breakdown of what the unions are backing: – Limit negative gearing and CGT discounts to one investment property – Grandfather current tax arrangements for five years – Cap fuel tax credits for big companies at $20m – Set a minimum 25 per cent tax rate for individuals earning over $1m – Apply the same 25 per cent minimum tax rate to family trusts – Replace the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax with a 25 per cent LNG export levy – Allow super funds more flexibility to invest in housing – Speed up approvals for modular housing and green energy projects National housing campaign Everybody's Home said pressure is mounting on the Albanese government to reform unfair investor tax breaks with the union movement adding to growing national support for change. Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said ending property investor tax concessions was good for housing affordability, wealth equality and productivity. 'This month's economic reform roundtable offers the federal government a critical opportunity to take decisive action on housing and end unfair investor tax breaks for good – it cannot afford to let this chance slip away.' 'These tax breaks most benefit those who don't need it, while the majority of hardworking Australians pay the price. Billions of taxpayer dollars are lost every year to these tax breaks that are making housing more expensive for everyone – and making inequality worse.' 'Ending these tax breaks is a crucial part of the solution. Ending unfair investor tax breaks will take heat out of the housing market and improve the budget bottom line meaning more funds can be spent on productive investments, like building more social housing.' 'Poll after poll shows more Australians are open to winding back investor tax breaks because they know it's unfair and unproductive. We're seeing more politicians, economists, think tanks, unions and other organisations calling for reform.' MORE: Cash-strap student turns $40k to 38 homes Govt pays $3.3m for unliveable derelict house Unions also support getting behind modular housing, which can be quicker and cheaper than using conventional building materials; backed by a faster development approvals' process for new housing and green energy projects. Australia's super funds can and should do more to contribute to building more homes. The super performance test which acts as a barrier to housing investment should be changed to allow super funds to build more homes. 'Everyone should pay their fair share of tax. The average worker pays more than 25pc in tax, it is only fair the very rich and big business does as well,' Ms McManus said. 'We are supporting a minimum 25pc tax on those earning $1m, a 25pc tax on family trusts and a 25pc export levy on Liquified Natural Gas replacing the broken PRRT. Finally, we need to stop providing unnecessary billions to the big miners through the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme by putting in place a sensible cap.' ACTU affiliated unions include the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU), Australian & International Pilots Association (AIPA), Australian Education Union (AEU), Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE), Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU), Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union (RTBU), Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF), Australian Services Union (ASU), Australian Workers' Union (AWU), Australian Writers' Guild (AWG), Breweries & Bottleyards Employees Industrial Union of Workers WA, Civil Air Operations Officers Association of Australia (Civil Air), Club Managers Association Australia (CMAA), Community and Public Sector Union (PSU Group), Community and Public Sector Union (SPSF Group), Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), Finance Sector Union (FSU), Flight Attendant's Association of Australia (FAAA), Health Services Union (HSU), Independent Education Union of Australia (IEU), Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), Mining and Energy Union, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA), Police Association of NSW, Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), Professionals Australia, Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), Timber, Furnishing & Textiles Union (TFTU), Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU), Union of Christmas Island Workers (UCIW), United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA) and United Workers Union (UWU).
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Millions of Australians to receive major pay rise as Fair Work Commission increases minimum wage: Find out how much more you'll get
Australia's 2.8million lowest paid workers have been awarded a 3.5 per cent wage increase to keep pace with moderating inflation. The Fair Work Commission's increase marked the weakest rise since 2021, when a 2.5 per cent increase was awarded. The annual wage review increase, coming into effect on July 1, was above the headline inflation rate of 2.4 per cent and in between what was sought by employers and unions. The decision will affect 2.6million Australians, or one in five workers, who are employed under one of 121 awards, along with the 180,000 people on the minimum wage. Fair Work Commission president Adam Hatcher delivered the industrial umpire's decision at 10am, AEST, on Tuesday, noting the low-paid are 'disproportionately female'. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry had argued for a 2.5 per cent increase that barely kept pace with inflation while the Australian Council of Trade Unions had argued for a 4.5 per cent rise. The latest increase is much smaller compared with recent years, given inflation has moderated since reaching a 32-year high of 7.8 per cent in late 2022.
