The ACCC has decided to re-authorise the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA) to continue to collectively negotiate terms of engagement of members who provide translator and interpreter services, primarily to Government departments as independent contractors, and to advise them in relation to appropriate fee levels and other terms of contracts for service.
The ACCC has authorised these arrangements for a further 10 years.
The ACCC considers there are likely to be public benefits from allowing APESMA to continue the arrangements, including transaction cost savings and improved access to information — which may enable more effective and efficient negotiation, and greater development and retention of qualified practitioners in the industry. Public detriments are likely to be limited.
An application for review of this decision must be made within 21 days of the date of this determination; that is, on or before 21 August 2019. If no application to review is lodged by this date, the ACCC’s determination will come into force on 22 August 2019.
A copy of the ACCC’s determination and summary of its reasons is available on the public registers at: Recruitment, Consulting & Staffing Association.