JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Australian trade unions have raised concern about the widespread use of long-distance commuting forms, such as fly-in, fly-out (Fifo) work practices, and have called on federal and state governments to do more to ensure that mining companies provide workers with a choice about their working and living arrangements.
Labour unions endorsed a resolution at this week’s triennial Australian Council of Trade Unions congress, which notes the impacts of Fifo on workers.
CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland president Stephen Smyth said employers’ growing preference for itinerant over residential workforces was killing local communities, leading to punishing roster cycles and discriminating against regional workers.
“Fifo and other commuting work arrangements are a necessary part of the industry, but they are being overused by companies which do not want to invest in local communities or training,” said Smyth.
“Fifo should be restricted to genuinely remote and temporary projects and workers should be given genuine choice about their working and living arrangements,” he added.
Unions also want government to ensure that Fifo worker accommodation camps meet minimum standards; that companies do not discriminate against local workers; that shifts and rosters are developed in consultation with employees and that tax arrangement do not favour the employment of itinerant over residential workforces.
The congress welcomed initiatives from the Western Australian Parliamentary inquiry into Fifo suicides and the Queensland government’s inquiry into the impacts of Fifo and commuting.