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Employers calling for IR, skills revamp ahead of federal election

Organisations need greater flexibility in how they engage workers, an employer group says in calling for key changes to Australia's "far too complicated" industrial relations system.

Ahead of the upcoming federal election, Ai Group is calling for a revamp of the IR system to give employers and employees more flexibility, as well as greater investment in skills, education and training to address current and future workforce needs.

Releasing several policy papers this week, Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox says the IR system is "far too complicated", and needs to be "modernised to reflect the needs of contemporary workplaces".

This should involve removing some matters from modern awards so they are instead addressed in the National Employment Standards, as has occurred with casual employment definitions and provisions, and giving award-covered employees and employers more flexibility to agree on arrangements that work for both parties.

Any rise in insecure work is "a myth", Willox adds. "The level of casual employment, labour hire employment, fixed-term employment and independent contracting has not increased over the past decade.

"Employers and employees need flexibility with forms of employment, not more restrictions..."