Australian industrial relations and employment law reforms Assignment

Australian industrial relations and employment law reforms - Assignment Example State involvement in industrial relations actions is both interesting and questionable, especially where politics that come with it are put into consideration. This paper seeks to critically analyse the reforms in employment sector by pointing out various benefits and poor decisions that were made in Australia for the past two decades. 2.0 Industrial Relations and Employment Law Reforms The establishment of the commonwealth conciliation and arbitration commission was a major step towards bringing towards finding a peaceful resolution to industrial relations. It also did recognize trade unions and this was a major boost for collective bargaining. All the registered unions became part and parcel of institutional framework that was meant for the Australian industrial relations. ... In 2005, workplace choices was introduced and this market the start of the Australian workplace agreements (AWA) and this was followed by the drastic disbandment of unfair dismissal laws which was targeting the employers that have less than one hundred employees (Hyslop & Stillman, 2004, pp.2). The language of employment relations has also been adjusted to include certain terms like high involvement which do bring out the aspect of employee motivation to work. Such linguistic changes also do emphasise the critical needs for teamwork, multiskilling and general involvement of employees to ensure that high levels of performance in terms of productivity and quality standards are achieved. Generally, the feeling for employees in Australia has been the lack of inclusion or consultation when it comes to keys issues that have an impact on their work and life (Quiggan, 2005, pp.2-6). Reports of over-working, high stress levels and lack of job security seems to have been the main driving force in this approach. The national employment relations have really changed. During these changes, the industrial relations reform was a major issue on the agenda of various political parties and has continued to elicit much debate from the political seen. 3.0 Industrial relations reforms amid hidden political interests When the Australian labour part got elected in 2007, introduction of Fair Work Australia and WorkChoices came onto being. This two employment systems had a major impact on the workforce of Australia and changed the face of employment relations and how the citizens view it. They also marked the beginning of State participation in the industrial relations. The election of Liberal National Coalition party that