Casual employees now have the right to ask for a permanent contract if they’ve worked regular hours for at least a year, thanks to a new ruling from the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Employers can refuse the request, however, they must consult with their employee first and provide an explanation based on reasonable grounds.
Australian Council of Trade Unions President Michelle O’Neill says this is an important change as every employee should be able to have secure work.
The ruling doesn’t mean casuals are required to convert to permanent if they don’t want to.