Second stimulus package not working – retailers

THE Federal Government’s second stimulus package has failed to flow through to retail jobs, a retailing lobby group says.

The Australian National Retailers Association (ARNA) says Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released today shows that the retail sector has continued to shed jobs.

ANRA chief executive Margy Osmond said an analysis of the ABS labour force figures for the May quarter reveal that 12,400 full-time jobs have been lost while 6000 part-time jobs have been created.

The switch to part-time from full-time is consistent with other sectors.

“The first cash handouts, combined with interest rate cuts and Christmas, helped boost retail jobs by 11,000 between November 2008 and February 2009,” she said.

“Unfortunately, we have yet to see the same jobs effect following the second stimulus package.”

Ms Osmond says the latest data underlines just how much pressure is being placed on jobs in the retail sector.

“It reinforces the argument from retailers that the next 12 months is precisely the wrong time to raise wage costs,” she said.

She said the industry’s overriding concern is the threat to jobs posed by the higher penalty rates and casual loadings of the modern retail award.

“Higher Sunday penalty rates, for example, are likely to slug employers with about $100 million in extra costs,” she said.

“ANRA urges the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to fulfil the government’s promise of no additional costs for employers from award modernisation.”

article excerpts news.com.au