Small Firms Play Down Job Benefits
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday April 24, 2007
SMALL businesses have contradicted the Federal Government's central argument for Work Choices - that the industrial changes spur employment - according to a national survey.
The firms have responded more negatively than positively when asked whether Work Choices meant they were more likely to take on new staff, a poll commissioned by the MYOB business software company has found.Thirty per cent of them deny they are more likely to hire under Work Choices, while fewer than one fifth say they are more likely to take on staff. More than 40 per cent were neutral about the benefits of Work Choices. The survey collected the views of 1804 firms that responded, out of more than 9000 invited to take part in the poll.The findings contrast with statements by the Prime Minister, John Howard, that strong growth in employment in the past year has been due to the removal of the unfair dismissal provisions under Work Choices.A spokesman for the Minister for Workplace Relations, Joe Hockey, said the findings were at odds with a number of other surveys showing strong small business support for Work Choices.An Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey found 71 per cent of business people believed the strong employment growth was linked to exemptions from unfair dismissal laws.
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald