A 40% increase in the wages of supported employees would see 85% of Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) in deficit, with four in 10 ADEs making losses above $250,000.
The report, 'Assessing the impact of increasing wage costs on Australian Disability Enterprises', stress tests ADEs in relation to a range of wage cost increases - from 20% to 100%. It shows that many ADEs currently struggle to be financially viable and that imposing higher wage costs would tip them over the edge. The project collected data from 85 organisations operating ADEs (44% of ADEs nationally employing 57% of supported employees) ensuring a representative sample.
The report effectively confirms that ADEs could not absorb higher wage costs without the loss of a large number of jobs. If wage costs increased by 40%, the jobs of 10,800 supported employees would potentially be at risk.
NDS will provide the report to the Fair Work Commission to help inform negotiations about a new wage assessment method. We shall also provide the report to the Australian Human Rights Commission in support of extending the time available for ADEs to adopt a wage assessment tool other than the BSWAT. *
If you are concerned that your disabled relative should stay employed at current rates rather than get a pay rise that forces their employers out of business - so they lose that job, then you should consider making your views known to your local State and Federal political representatives.
Mary-Lou Carter reports that 400 Parents recently attended a rally in Wollongong, convened by Greenacre and Flagstaff (two local DSEs) to discuss a community response.
It is likely a protest rally will be arranged for families to go to Canberra and express their concerns.
POWER is WITH the PARENTS.
If you want this move rejected you'd better get involved and make your voice heard.
(* NDS National News Update , 30 Sep 2015)
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ReplyDeleteThank you Chris for putting this up. Parent power has always been the driving force in disability. That's how we have special schools, the parents didn't believe the we-know-best-brigade when they said our children were ineducable, so they started schools for their children with intellectual disability. That's how we have places of employment because the mainstream didn't cater for our children when they too need a purpose in their lives, they too need to work, recreate and have social connections. The opportunities for employment for people with intellectual disability must not be subjected to the ideological lawfare that has been waged by taxpayer funded advocates who represent only a handful of people and yet they say they speak for everyone. Places of employment which meet the needs of people with intellectual and complex disabilities are worth fighting for. Kind regards to all Mary Lou Carter
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