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ARA welcomes modern award flexibility clause - AIRC announces retail as priority industry for modern awards

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) welcomed the flexibility clause of the modern award after the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) announced retail as a priority industry today.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans welcomed the AIRC's acknowledgement that there is a need for flexible individual agreements between employers and employees in the retail sector.

"The flexibility clause covering arrangements regarding when work is performed; overtime and penalty rates; allowances and leave loading provides flexibility and simplicity for a sector made up of vastly different business types and sizes which can't be achieved through overly complex and restrictive requirements.

"Retailers need flexibility in a deregulated environment and any redevelopment of the retail award must ensure it addresses the modern retail sector driven by consumers far different from what they were 20 years ago, " Evans said.

Despite short time frames the ARA is well on track to produce a draft modern award by the 25 July due date.

"Without underestimating the enormity of the task facing the retail sector as a priority industry, it is fair to say the ARA is sufficiently advanced in its planning and consideration on the issues.

"To assist us with this task, we have also enlisted the services of Adelaide University's Professor Andrew Stewart who has extensive experience in employment law and workplace relations. He will be developing a discussion paper and draft a Modern Award on behalf of the ARA," Evans said.

For over 104 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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