WSC Briefing on a Fair Work Agency

This briefing sets out WSC’s five principles for effective labour market enforcement, which must be: accessible; trusted; worker-centred; connected; and resourced. A new Fair Work Agency (FWA) should seek to prevent exploitation before it takes place, by operating on an understanding of risk that relates to the International Labour Organisation forced labour indicators and guided by experts on the issue of labour exploitation, including representatives of at-risk workers that are non-unionised.

The FWA should include pro-active inspection, strong engagement with independent worker support organisations as well as trade unions, safe and anonymous reporting routes, and resourcing to meet International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.