Lollipop workers could be paid a whopping $180,000 under proposed new laws in Queensland, Australia as labor lawmakers are considering minimum conditions which could see workers enjoy a generous pay.
According to experts, companies could see building costs increase by 30% as lollipop workers would earn almost three times more than nurses, who receive around $65,000.
Lead by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the government would implement a huge benefit for people working in major state-funded projects.
This would be similar to the industry agreement by Mining, Maritime, Construction, Forestry and Energy Union.
In addition, the policy would make building companies responsible for making sure subcontractors are paid the right rates.
It also demands generous superannuation contributions of twelve percent and five percent annual pay increases.
According to the Australian Financial Review, weekend laborers would also receive overtime payments.
With a 46-hour working week, carpenters could receive #196,000 per year, while lollipop workers could earn around $178,000.
Deputy CEO of Master Builders Queensland, Paul Bidwell, called the proposed laws ‘bizarre’ and said the money could be spent on constructing more school rooms and hospitals.
“No one wants it,” he said to Daily Mail Australia about the proposal. “I don’t know who dreamed this up.”
He added: “People are happy to be paid $40-45 an hour in Cairns, but now they’ll get $97 an hour. I’m assuming that it’s the government’s intention to inject more money into the Cairns’ economy, so they’re spending.
“But you don’t have to spend at that rate, they’re choosing to do that, our view would be – why not do it at the market rates and build more of them? More hospitals, more schoolrooms. Rather than paying more for each project individually.”
Chief executive of the Master Builders Association, Grant Galvin, called the policy ‘Orwellian.’ He told AFR: “They’re not minimum conditions – they’re maximum conditions.
“The fact that the state government would even trial a policy which ensures that the most expensive and restrictive work practices in Australia are applied to all major government jobs across the state, is beyond comprehension.”
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Replaced!