Construction bosses push to scrap Saturday penalty rates to prevent industry collapse

Construction bosses are pushing to scrap Saturday penalty rates, warning 450,000 jobs in the industry are at risk. The government is finalizing details of a housing stimulus package, with cabinet’s expenditure review committee fine tuning the details today. Master Builders Australia Chief Executive Denita Wawn told Sky News the industry wanted homeowner grants up to $40,000, home renovations grants up to $20,000 and temporary flexibility on workplace agreements which could see changes to casual hours and penalties. “There is a decline in work by around 40 per cent that will start hitting us around September… that will impact up to a third of workers in our industry,” she said. “That’s 450,000 workers… which would be close to industry collapse.” The CFMMEU has pushed back against the calls, saying it will not stand by and let the pandemic be an excuse to cut wages and conditions.