Industrial revamps acclaimed
Australia's new industrial relations legislation, which aims to reduce union power, has yielded results in the first three months, Industrial Relations Minister Peter Reith says.
In Hong Kong yesterday, Mr Reith addressed business leaders at an Australian Chamber of Commerce meeting.
His visit is part of a tour of Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong to spread awareness of Australia's industrial reforms.
Mr Reith said the legislation, which took effect on January 1, would free the labour market by shifting pay bargaining from the centralised system to workplaces.
The reforms banned compulsory unionism, secondary strike action, strike pay, strikes during the term of a wage agreement, and restored employers' powers to sack workers.
Mr Reith said the Australian Government had targeted the construction industry, which was of interest to Hong Kong real-estate investors, for the reforms.
