The ACTU’s eight-point plan calls for the creation of two million new secure jobs and the halving of job insecurity to be set as a target for rebuilding the Australian economy in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
COVID-19 has revealed fault-lines in our economy that must be addressed as we look to rebuild, the ACTU says.
It says to drive the post-pandemic rebuild we need to:
- Improve the quality and security of jobs by creating two million new permanent jobs and halving the number of insecure jobs
- Lift wages and living standards
- Strengthen and invest in public and community services that are our first line of defence against ‘shocks’ like COVID-19, bushfires and drought
- Support nation-building projects that create decent jobs and set Australia up for a brighter future
- Rebuild our domestic skills and training system
- Deal with the crisis of climate change
- Improve social, health and economic outcomes for people and communities that experience disadvantage
- Embrace industry policy and ‘Australian made’.
“These eight guiding principles will help shape a rebuilding effort that puts people in more secure jobs, gets wage growth going again, ensures Australia is making what we need, putting our national interests above any vested corporate interests and investing in our communities,” said ACTU President Michele O’Neil.
The ACTU plan can be downloaded at: https://www.actu.org.au/media/1449112/rebuilding-jobs-and-our-economy-post-covid-19.pdf