Originally Posted by
Bend alot
NZ Conehead, What is your take on Labour Hire companies in Australia and operations within the laws?
My take is that none of them operate legally within Australian tax laws. Working under an ABN for work which is paid by the hour is sham contracting.
If you were engaged for a fixed price for a fixed task then it is legal (ie $XXX for a 100 hourly or phase or engine change) but when you are turning up, working by the hour and getting paid by the hour you are a casual employee.
However it is rife in the industry and the ALAEA and other unions seem totally uninterested in doing anything about it.
The ATO have been doing things, I do know of people contracting for one company all the time who have had ABNs cancelled due to not being a contractor.