‘Could cause chaos in the workplace’

The government’s
proposed labour
amendments could lead
to chaos in the workplace
with people expected
to be made permanent
staff and paid the same,
irrespective of their
experience, said Lee
Botti, MD of Lee Botti
and Associates.
She said temporary
employment provided
work of a seasonal nature
and suited many – from
matriculants and collegeleavers
to housewives
and the unemployed. “It
allows them, in each
case, to learn another
skill or IT system and
increases their confidence
to eventually negotiate
a position to which they
aspire,” she said.
Botti said the proposed
remuneration clause that
employees receive equal
pay and equal benefits
from the start of their
employment would create
havoc among those who
have five years, 10 years
or 20 years of experience
doing the same job. “How
can their value be the
same?”
Referring to the
Employment Services Bill
requirement of reporting
of vacancies and filling
of positions, she said for a
small business employing
20 staff this would lead
to bureaucracy. “There
would be too much
administration to report
all vacancies and reasons
why candidates were not
successful. This would
hamper our success in
focusing on our core
business to provide staff
to our industry,” she said.