July 2014: Trade unions have expressed concern about the rising practice in private sector management of hiring new workers as contractors or through labour hire companies. They have highlighted the way in which this has led to a deteriorating collective bargaining position of private sector workers.
Workers engaged on a contract basis or through a third party are not entitled to facilities and other benefits such as health and group insurance.
This is of particular concern to the trade unions in light of the recent privatisation of former government sectors, such as banks and insurance companies. As a result, trade union representation in these industries has been wiped out.