The National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) has flagged concerns for female workers after recruitment firm Women in Construction lost its labour hire licence.
The Victorian Labour Hire Authority (LHA) has announced that it will not renew the labour hire licence of the company, following concerns about its operations.
The licence refusal takes immediate effect, with a grace period until une 30 to enable construction sites hosting the company’s workers to make alternative labour arrangements.
Companies engaging workers through Women in Construction may elect to directly employ these staff, or to engage them through another licensed labour hire provider.
If Women in Construction provides labour hire services after June 30, the company and its directors – and any business found engaging these services – will be exposed to significant penalties.
Under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic), maximum penalties for the supply or use of unlicensed labour hire exceed:
- $650,000 for a company; and
- $160,000 for an individual.
LHA refused the application by Women in Construction to renew its licence as LHA was not satisfied that all relevant persons were fit and proper to operate a labour hire business.
LHA identified that multiple relevant persons – key decision-makers within the company – 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.
NAWIC CEO Cathryn Greville highlighted the potential impact of this decision on the women who have been working through Women in Construction, 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,” Cathryn said.
“NAWIC is not affiliated with Women in Construction 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.”
