The CPSU is continuing its push to revive the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES). 

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has voted in favour of continuing its “Bring back the CES”, with plans to present a new proposal at the ALP National Conference in August.

According to the CPSU, the ALP draft National Policy Platform has already integrated part of their proposal on “mutual obligations”.

This entails recognising the drawbacks of mutual obligations and exploring an alternative approach. 

The central aim of the campaign is to dismantle the policy and system of mutual obligation and compulsory activity, which has been widely criticised for its administrative burden on employers when job seekers apply for positions to meet activity quotas.

Reviving the CES would signify a significant change, as the government would become a direct employment services provider, potentially offering a much larger talent pool to private employers compared to the current assisted and supervised job-seeking services for social security recipients.

Melissa Donnelly, CPSU National Secretary, stressed the importance of modernising the CES, allowing the government to actively shape labour market changes and respond to economic challenges. 

While some employers, especially larger ones, might appreciate the prospect of sourcing labour from a larger, centralised pool and potentially saving on recruiter fees, others have concerns about limited choice and access to talent. 

In the past, private employers were hesitant to engage with the CES, especially during times of high unemployment rates.

The success of the CPSU's proposal hinges on the assumption that the CES would have access to a substantial talent pool and could effectively undercut commercial recruiters. 

However, critics argue that private sector involvement in public employment services can yield positive outcomes as demonstrated in progressive countries like Sweden.