The Rudd government’s attempt to pass the new Fair Work Bill is jumping hurdles in the Senate.
The Greens have announced that they will vote for the legislation, but Independent Senator for South Australia Nick Xenophon has yet to reveal his cards.
“I am still negotiating,” Xenophon said to NKEE last Friday. “My concern is a fair outcome for all and especially the small businesses threshold,” he added.
The small businesses threshold refers to the unfair dismissal protection for employees in small business and the number of employees under which a company is exempt from this provisions.
The Opposition has suggested the threshold to be set at 25 employees, Family First’s Senator Steve Fielding has recommended 20 while Xenophon is not revealing a number, reiterating that he is negotiating so “that small businesses are not scared from hiring people.”