There are calls for the Rudd government to move quickly to scrap the remainder of WorkChoices, as state and territory IR ministers meet in Sydney today.
The Rudd Government has promised to implement a new system by 2010.
The meeting is expected to discuss the key features of Labor's proposed IR laws.
But the Australian Council of Trade Unions says the ministers must address the urgent need to abolish the existing IR regime.
ACTU president Sharan Burrow says it's wrong to assume WorkChoices is dead, and tens of thousands of Australian workers are continuing to be hurt by the laws.
Ms Burrow says she hopes today's talks are productive.
“The state ministers have a real role to play. A robust national system with strong collective bargaining rights…the role of the independent umpire to move in and settle intractable disputes…”
The federal government introduced laws banning new Australian Workplace Agreements in March, when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd declared WorkChoices dead and buried.
The government has said it'll take as long as it needs to reform the entire IR system, with the new regime to be in place by early 2010.
