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Retailers welcome independent IR review with view to the future

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said retailers welcomed yesterday’s long- awaited announcement by Minister for Workplace Relations Bill Shorten of the details about the Government’s review of Fair Work laws.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said he was looking forward to working with the recently appointed Minister Shorten in an independent review with a view to the future sustainability of jobs in the retail sector.

“In order to achieve growth in the retail sector, employment issues facing the industry need to be addressed, and we are delighted there will be a review so retailers can continue to innovate and be globally competitive.

“Yesterday retail employers would have seen hope for the future and the chance to close the widening gap between being flexible enough to meet the demands of the modern consumer and their ability to afford wages and penalty rates for staff under an outdated structure.

“In addition, retailers are facing some of the highest wage and penalty rates in the world, and employers are being hit with added pressures, for example extra public holidays.

“Retailers need both the incentive and flexibility to hold onto staff and at the moment the legislation doesn’t allow this to happen.

“As Australia’s largest employer, contributing to 1 in 10 Australian jobs and a $240 billion part of the country’s economy, retailers need to be able to maintain both employment levels and growth.

“ARA looks forward to a real opportunity to address productivity and flexibility issues in the retail workplace,” Zimmerman said.

For over 100 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia’s $240 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 and with a range of member services including 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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For interview opportunities with ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman
contact: Andie McMaster, Media & Communication Officer T: 0408 613 178 E: media@retail.org.au

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