Industrial reform remains high on the business agenda with most Rewards members agreeing it is time for a major overhaul of the IR system.

The results of last month’s survey showed widespread belief the current unfair dismissal laws are too strict for Australian employers.

Sixty-nine per cent supported changes to the unfair dismissal laws, and 76 per cent went even further, saying an overhaul of the whole system was needed.

It’s a view already espoused by major employer groups the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Industry Group and the Business Council of Australia which said the reforms would promote labour flexibility, reduce compliance costs and underpin renewed productivity growth.

However, the groups agree that implementation of the far-reaching reforms pose challenges to workforce management which will need to be handled carefully if the benefits are to be realised.

Overall, around half of the survey respondents (54%) also thought the proposed industrial relations reforms would be of benefit to the economy.

The take-up of workplace agreements remains high in Australia, and 72 per cent of Rewards members agreed they were good for Australian workers.

According to the Office of the Employment Advocate (OEA) which registers agreements, Australian employers’ use of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) is continuing to grow, with many more new employers adopting individual agreements.

A total of 11,970 employers have now had workplace agreements approved since the commencement of the OEA in 1997.

To the end of June 2005, the OEA had approved a total of 709,417 workplace agreements - a 36 per cent increase on the approval figures for last year.