The Australian Industry Group (AI) is among lobbyists demanding Disability Support Workers be paid less when sleeping on site for work.

AI, renowned for its extreme approach to industrial relations, and its pro-free market allies, want to vary the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS Award) to reduce pay rates for overnight shifts.

The CPSU NSW is strongly opposed to the applications made by the employer groups and has separately filed an application to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to increase the sleepover allowance and improve conditions more generally.

In August 2024, FWC President Hatcher determined to hear unions’ application in two parts. The first part would involve the applications made by the employer groups and the part of the unions’ application which was directly in response to those applications.

The second part of the proceedings would deal with the remainder of the unions’ application which seeks to improve the conditions related to sleepovers, including seeking an increase to the allowance payable for each night an employee sleeps over at the workplace.

The Full Bench reserved its decision on the first part of the application.