Aussie govt to probe employers seeking to unwind wage deals

Sydney

MOVES to abruptly unwind boom-time wage hikes in Australia by cancelling agreements and threatening workers with minimum industry pay are unfair, according to the head of a parliamentary committee examining the issue, and could prompt changes to the law.

Several companies operating in Australia including Indian conglomerate and coal mine owner Lanco Infratech, energy retailer AGL, commodity freight operator Aurizon and Exxon Mobil subsidiary Esso have all terminated, or are in the process of terminating, long-standing agreements when they expire.