Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003

The Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria is established.

The Council has the functions conferred on it by or under this or any other Act.

In particular, and without limiting subsection (2), the Council has the following functions in relation to the clothing industry—

to advise and make recommendations to the Minister generally on the industry and outwork practices in the industry, including the impact of developments in the industry on outworkers;

to advise the Minister on the level of compliance of sectors of the industry with their obligations (whether or not voluntarily undertaken) to ensure that outworkers receive their lawful entitlements;

to make recommendations about the means by which compliance with those obligations might be encouraged and enforced;

to foster the adoption and observance of self‑regulatory mechanisms, such as the Homeworkers Code and other voluntary industry agreements, through consultation with the Code of Practice Committee, industry retailers and manufacturers, relevant industrial organisations and other interested persons and bodies;

to support changes to the Homeworkers Code that the Council considers might increase its effectiveness in ensuring that outworkers receive their lawful entitlements;

to promote, as may be appropriate, the Homeworkers Code, any similar voluntary industry code and any code made under this Act, and persons who comply with those codes;

to facilitate consultation between industry retailers and relevant industrial organisations concerning the making and implementation of voluntary agreements relating to outwork practices in the industry;

to conduct education programs and disseminate information relating to outworkers and the industry;

to advise and make recommendations to the Minister on the operation, and any amendment to or revocation of, the mandatory code (if in force) and the scope of any exemptions that should be given by the regulations;

to make the reports referred to in this Division.

The Council may provide advice, and make recommendations, to the Minister even though the Minister has not requested it to do so.

In performing its functions, the Council—

must consider, where relevant, anything done or published by the Ethical Clothing Trades Council of New South Wales; and

is subject to the control and direction of the Minister, except in relation to any report given to the Minister under this Division.