The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has decided to re-authorise the Homeworkers Code of Practice for two years.
The code assists businesses in the textile, clothing and footwear industry in Australia to help ensure compliance with the legislative requirements applying to homeworkers or outworkers.
"The code was first authorised by the ACCC in 2000. Since then there has been an increase in the number of businesses subject to the code," ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said.
"The code imposes obligations on participants in the supply chain to provide award wages and conditions to textile, clothing and footwear homeworkers. In this way the code helps to reduce the exploitation of homeworkers. Further, by increasing industry and consumer awareness about working conditions, businesses accredited under the code are also able to promote their ethical credentials to consumers."
Therefore, consistent with previous decisions, the ACCC considers that the likely public benefits from the code will outweigh the public detriments.
The Homeworker Code Committee is currently in the process of conducting a review and update of the code. Consequently, the ACCC has granted re-authorisation for two years as requested by the committee.
Authorisation provides immunity from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
The ACCC's determination will be available from the ACCC website and by following the links to this matter.