Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP has welcomed the passage of the 457 reforms through the House of Representatives.

Mr Bandt says his support for the legislation came after the Greens secured amendments to protect local nursing and engineering jobs.

“This is an important step in protecting Australian jobs and the rights of all workers – locals and those on 457 visas,” Mr Bandt said.

“It is a culmination of a strong campaign to ensure that employers test the local labour market before seeking to bring in workers from overseas.”

A bid by Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt to prevent Telstra subsidiary Sensis from off-shoring jobs was rejected by Labor and Tony Abbott today.

Mr Bandt tried to bring on an emergency debate on his Telecommunications Amendment (Protecting Local Workers) Bill which would require Telstra to produce directories such as the White Pages and Yellow Pages in Australia.

“Labor has dudded Yellow Pages workers,” Mr Bandt said.

“Telstra is required by law to produce the White Pages. My bill would ensure the work was done in Australia.”

Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP has said government action on 457 visas was long overdue. Mr Bandt said the Greens were favourably disposed to the government's bill introduced today, but would look closely at the detail of the bill, particularly in relation to labour market testing.

“On the face of it, the government seems to have finally listened to unions and the Greens and are moving to require employers to advertise locally before bringing in workers from overseas,” Mr Bandt said.

Greens Deputy Leader and workplace spokesperson Adam Bandt MP says he will move amendments to the Fair Work Act tomorrow to limit the ability of the Fair Work commission to supress minimum wage rises because of increases in the superannuation guarantee.

The Fair Work Commission justified its decision to only award an increase of 2.6 per cent to the minimum wage today, in part because of the planned increase to the compulsory super guarantee contribution from employers.

Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson says the decision of the Fair Work Commission to increase the minimum wage by $15.80 a week was better than what employers were pushing for but fell short of what low-paid workers deserved.

Mr Bandt said the decision will mean workers will just keep up with inflation.

“This is well short of what the lowest workers need. It means workers will only just keep up with inflation,” Mr Bandt said.

The Australian Greens have criticised Tony Abbott’s workplace policy and called on Labor to guarantee they would join with the Greens in blocking his proposals if they come before the Parliament.

Tony Abbott has today flagged a crackdown on unions, an increase in individual flexible agreements and the reinstatement of the Australian Building and Construction Commission if he forms government after the election.

“The Greens will use our numbers in Parliament to stop any attempt to attack Australians’ rights at work,” Mr Bandt said today.

The Australian Greens will use its numbers in Parliament  to block any attempt by an Abbott government to remove workplace rights, Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said today.

The Greens will move in Parliament to ensure that work done at Telstra subsidiary, Sensis, continues to be performed in Australia.

Greens MP and workplace relations spokesperson, Adam Bandt, today released a revised amendment to the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Consumer Protection) Bill 2013, which will operate from today, 9 April 2013.

“Our national phone company shouldn't send up to 700 jobs overseas just to make more profit,” said Mr Bandt.

Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson, Adam Bandt, has backed ACTU President Ged Kearney's call for action on insecure work, made at the ACTU job summit in Old Parliament House today.

Mr Bandt said he expects further debate next week on the Greens' Fair Work Amendment (Tackling Job Insecurity) Bill 2012 and has called on Labor to back the bill.

"The Prime Minister will address the ACTU secure jobs summit tomorrow. I hope she gets behind the Greens' bill to address the growing problem of insecure work," Mr Bandt said.

Greens Deputy Leader and workplace spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP, has welcomed the tabling of a Senate Inquiry into section 457 visas and the Greens' bill to regulate Enterprise Migration Agreements.

While the Labor majority stopped short of calling for protections to be enshrined in law, the report accepted the principles underlying the bill and recommended much stronger government action on 457s and EMAs, including advertising jobs locally before approving EMAs.