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Retailers want modern award to reflect modern community

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) today submitted to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) that a retail award for 1.2 million employees should reflect the community demand for deregulated shopping hours.

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) today submitted to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) that a retail award for 1.2 million employees should reflect the community demand for deregulated shopping hours.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said the penalty rate structure of the current award is focused on the regulated market of Monday to Friday working weeks and is not flexible enough for the modern retail market.

“The modern consumer wants seven day, and in some cases, 24 hour shopping access. Retail is very competitive and driven by consumer demand. A retailer should not be penalised for being open to meet consumer demand, but under the current structure for penalty rates they are.

“Someone selling shoes on Monday should be paid the same as someone selling shoes on Saturday. Yet the current award enacted prior to the deregulation of shopping hours supports this discrimination and we say it’s unfair. Why should someone who opens a clothing store on Monday be paid differently to someone who closes it on Sunday?

“The ARA supports the continuation of penalty rates within the context of a seven day - 24 hour trade period. We strongly recommend penalty rates such as overtime and loadings should take effect after prescribed working hours and not prescribed days,” Evans said.

The ARA’s draft modern retail award recommends maximum flexibility for working hours and recognises the importance of full-time employees to the sector. During the submission process, the ARA consulted widely with its members, industry associations and focus groups and enlisted the services of Adelaide University's Professor Andrew Stewart who has extensive experience in employment law and workplace relations.

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.

For interview opportunities with ARA Executive Director Richard Evans contact:
Kath Christie, ARA Policy & Media T: 0422 293 544 E: kath.christie@retail.org.au

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