Australia’s privacy laws and workers’ rights
A new report, "No blood – no job: Australia’s privacy laws and workers’ rights," by Lisa Heap from the Centre for Future Work, raises concerns about the use of blood analysis and biometric data collection in employee screening. The report highlights that organisations are collecting sensitive personal data, like health information and biometric data, without proper adherence to privacy laws, risking significant harm to workers.
The report emphasises that privacy is a fundamental human right, yet some organisations are treating the collection of sensitive data as routine, leading to concerns about discrimination and fairness. It also points out gaps in Australia’s privacy and workplace relations laws, with reforms expected in late 2024 to better protect workers' privacy.
The report calls for stronger regulations, including a unified system to protect workers' privacy, requiring informed consent for data collection, and a tripartite mechanism to oversee the development of privacy frameworks and provide workers with ways to address concerns.