The week, the VTHC’s Acting Secretary, Wil Stracke, gave an interview on the ABC about surveillance in the workplace, the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into workplace surveillance, what the issues are and why we should be worried.
The media seems to be focused on employers monitoring Facebook use. Certainly unions believe that we should be able to express our views on a range of issues publicly if we choose to do so, and this should not have anything to do with how we are treated at work. However, the real problem is far greater, with unprecedented amounts of data being collected by employers, without the knowledge of workers.
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry into workplace surveillance is holding public hearings throughout September and in November after receiving 42 submissions from individuals and organisations. The Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee is examining the impacts it has on workers, the role of new technologies in the practice and the use and handling of data collected.
Legal experts, academics and unions are among those calling for specific workplace surveillance legislation in Victoria to protect employees’ privacy.
The submissions from the Victorian Trades Hall Council and Victorian branch of the Community and Public Sector Union, take an extensive look at the impacts of workplace surveillance on workers, including their health and wellbeing and overall workplace culture.
More information: ABC Interview with Wil Stracke (Facebook), Previous SafetyNet story on this issue.
