Page 1576 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 14 May 2019
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certificates as of today and I have heard a number of positive stories from the Secure Local Jobs Code Registrar. For example, the recent light rail launch event, a fantastic event enjoyed by me and many others across Gungahlin and Civic, was only possible with extensive traffic management and security services. I am pleased to say that the businesses engaged by the ACT government for these services held secure local jobs certificates and had been certified that they provide their workers across the events and indeed the entirety of their businesses with the highest ethical and labour standards.
A significant milestone for the secure local jobs code is that we have received and approved an application from one of the country’s largest facility service providers, with over 11,000 employees across the country delivering cleaning, support, property, aviation security and catering services. Every one of those 11,000 employees now covered by the secure local jobs code is providing the high standards set out by our progressive government.
We have also seen the secure local jobs code’s reach go beyond ACT government work and beyond those companies. The registrar has been contacted by a local non-government organisation that is undertaking construction work that will require construction companies tendering for their work to hold a secure local jobs code certificate.
These examples further highlight that the expectation that businesses provide the highest ethical and labour standards for their workers is not only an expectation of the ACT Labor government but also an expectation of our entire community.
MS ORR: Minister, how can businesses find out more about secure local jobs code certification?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Orr for the supplementary and her interest in this very important policy area. As I have mentioned, businesses that tender for ACT government work in security, cleaning, traffic management and construction currently require a secure local jobs certificate. That said, we have received applications from a broad range of industries beyond those four sectors.
Application for a secure local jobs code certificate is open to any business that can demonstrate that it provides their workers with the highest ethical and labour standards. Indeed, it would be worthwhile for any business that intends to tender for any government work, particularly when the secure local jobs code is expanded to tenders over $200,000 from January next year, to consider getting certified early.
Businesses have reported that undertaking certification has been a very helpful exercise beyond just receiving the certificate. Auditors have not only been ensuring compliance with relevant obligations but have also been providing guidance and advice in relation to how to meet those employment obligations in an efficient way. I have heard reports of some businesses, through an audit, identifying and rectifying issues that they may not have been aware of and ensuring that they continue to meet high standards for their workers.
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