The South Coast Labour Council is calling for immediate assistance to casuals and permanent workers as well as a moratorium on evictions, bank foreclosures and the suspension of utility services such as power, gas and water if households cannot afford to pay during the lockdown.
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The union's have put together a five point plan to ensure no one is left out in the cold during lockdown
SCLC secretary Arthur Rorris said it was important to learn from previous mistakes to ensure no-one suffers unduly and inadvertently spreads COVID-19 out of necessity to earn money to put food on the table.
Read more: One death, 89 new COVID-19 cases in NSW
Mr Rorris said any worker that is excluded from income security during the lockdown increases the risk of outbreaks.
He said it the government wants people to stay at home then they need to at least pay them the minimum wage so they are able to still put food on the table.
"Casuals are of a particular concern to us," he said.
"Just think for a moment what you would do if you were a casual worker who has had all their shifts taken off them. And you are now entering into three weeks, four weeks or five weeks without any money and a family to feed. Just think of what your options are going to be.
"Unfortunately for many they will take the job that is cash in hand that may not be regulated and that is quick and easy money regardless of where it sits in industrial relations law."
Mr Rorris said if they have no other option but put themselves in a risky position just to put food on the table, everyone will pay.
"We will pay for it with our health and we will pay for it economically," he said.
"Which is why assistance at the very least has to be at minimum wage level to ensure there is no compulsion on them to seek other forms of work when they have nothing coming in."
Mr Rorris said during the 2020 lockdown many casuals were left out in the cold.
That included casual workers who hadn't been working in the job for more than a year. As well as musicians, artists, actors and university workers.
"Lets not make the same mistake again. Because Delta is unforgiving. There is no room for complacency," he said.
"We have got to be very careful that everyone has the opportunity to stay at home and feed their families and meet their responsibilities.
"The Government says they want to save businesses. We want to save people's lives and homes as well.
"We have got to make sure the banks back off from any potential foreclosures on both business and home loans. And that landlords and others are not allowed to evict anyone.
"There were some good rules last year that need to be applied again and strengthened.
"If we can loosen the pressure on those with home and business loans by lengthening the term of their contract with the banks. We then loosen the pressure on those landlords as well.
"Banks have got to do the right thing by the landlords and the landlords have got to do the right thing by their tenants."
The 5 Point Plan:
- Securing regular payments to workers at their normal wage rates unable to work safely during this period and not less than the minimum wage.
- Casual workers must be included in support payments without the restrictive length of service condition that excluded many last time. These payments must not be less than the minimum wage.
- Moratorium on all evictions from rental premises (home and business) during this period.
- Moratorium on bank foreclosures on home and business mortgages during this period.
- Utilities, including Power, Water, Gas and Communications be prevented from suspending these essential services from home and business customers.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
