Luke Achterstraat, CEO of COSBOA, said small businesses run the risk of losing their status by bringing in additional casual workers to meet seasonal demand.

He pointed out that many small businesses can easily employ dozens of people while operating on low margins and turnover.

“A more appropriate definition “This could be achieved by updating the definition to 50 full-time equivalent employees, excluding casuals,” Achterstraat said in a statement. “This would bring Australia closer to its peers such as the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada.”

Unions do not agree with the proposal

But the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) accuses COSBOA of wanting to encourage employers to no longer comply with employment laws.

“Half of all workers would have right to unfair dismissalrights to fair remuneration, severance pay, wage theft protectionsand their rights to job security will be taken away if the business lobby gets what they want,” said Joseph Mitchell, acting secretary of the ACTU, in a statement.