NAWIC has flagged concerns for female workers after Women in Construction loses labour hire licence
The Victorian Labour Hire Authority (LHA) has announced that it will not renew the labour hire licence of Women in Construction Pty Ltd, following serious concerns about the company’s operations.
In a statement released by the LHA last week it said that “multiple relevant persons – key decision-makers within the company [Women in Construction] – had not been declared to LHA as required. LHA was also not satisfied that all relevant persons were fit and proper under law to operate a labour hire business in Victoria.”
National Association of Women in Construction CEO Cathryn Greville has highlighted the potential impact of this decision on the women who have been working through Women in Construction Pty Ltd and may now face uncertainty about their employment and income.
NAWIC is calling on governments, industry clients and delivery partners to build stronger safeguards into the design, procurement and governance of women’s participation initiatives, to improve transparency and accountability across labour hire and other delivery models, and to act quickly where risks or misconduct are identified.
“NAWIC has a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct and supports regulatory and compliance action that strengthens accountability across the sector,” Greville says.
“NAWIC is not affiliated with Women in Construction Pty Ltd and has not engaged the company in relation to programs or partnerships, however initiatives to increase women’s participation in construction and infrastructure are critical to addressing longstanding under representation.
“We are calling on governments, project owners and employers to actively identify and support any affected workers, including through safe alternative placements, continuity of income where possible, and clear information about their rights and options.”