”The Week on Wednesday” with Van Badham & Ben Davison
News:Politics
Ben looks at the big win for farm workers this week as up to 130,000 workers will see their wages rise from as low as $3/hr to a minimum of $25.14 an hour. Despite a second record harvest year in a row and as many as 16,000 jobs needing to be filled the usual corporate agri-business lobbyists are condemning the outcome and suggesting they will appeal. The Australian Workers Union has said "If you work on a farm and aren't being paid at least $25 an hour someone is stealing your wages."
The hospitality sector is claiming it needs 100,000 temporary migrant workers to meet demand even as it claims a $44Million program from the Victorian government designed to boost demand in hospitality. The sector is rife with wage theft, super theft, rostering abuses, sexual harassment and awful working conditions. None of which the Hotels Association is suggesting they will fix before the importation of more easily exploitable temporary migrant workers.
These "labour shortage" claims come as RBA and ABC reports show that 2.2M Australians who want to work do not have the work they need. More than 200,000 people who want to work can't due to caring responsibilities and a lack of access to appropriate alternative care for their child, elders or family member with a disability.
The systemic problems are low wages, poor working conditions, lack of support to enter the workforce through the provision of care facilities and services and a quick fix mentality among many in these sectors that have become hooked on easily exploitable temporary migrant workers.
There's also info on the launch of the new children's book by the Victorian Trades Hall Council "Sticking Together", a new track by mr?e & the 4.I.S crew, an update on FriendlyJordies' effective win over Barilaro and Van's in studio appearance on Marcus Paul to talk Alan Jones, Morrison's disgrace and Qanon and On.
Weekend Wrap February 21st 2021
Episode 25: Morrison government's bungling of alleged rape complaint & changes to BOOT given the boot but cuts to wages & job security still a threat
Weekend Wrap Feb 14, 2021
Episode 24: Crown loses its sparkle, Morrison's Omnibus Bill hits a pothole & Eddie Maguire's poor me resignation
Weekend Wrap Feb 7, 2021
Episode 23: Tanya takes on Kelly, The Reserve bank predicts a painful 2021 & a Bernie meme changing lives
weekend wrap Jan 31, 2021
Episode 22: Biden hits the ground running, Morrison fires up the culture wars & good news on rhinos
Weekend Wrap Jan 24 2021
Episode 21: What's going on with the economy & jobs? Plus austerity is taking away kids lunches.
Weekend Wrap Jan 17, 2021
Episode 20: Trump's failed coup, Morrison & McCormack try on Trumpery & the good news is "Plyscrapers"
Weekend Wrap Jan 10 2021
Episode 19: COVID 2021, Morrison creates more poverty & good news on electric cars...
Episode 18:What COVID has meant we learnt about government, politics, work, power and the world in 2020
Weekend Wrap Dec 13, 2020 16:51
Episode 17: The Ominous Omnibus IR Bill, Scott Morrison plays dress-ups and THREE pieces of good news
Episode 16: After COVID are we heading to a brighter future or returning to a dark past? Plus Brexit is cooked.
Episode 15: Andrews shows Morrison how to do recovery, digital sham contracting is killing people & the world is not waiting for us on electric vehicles
Episode 14: Andrews' social housing revolution, Liberal Party lack of integrity & beeees!
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free