Bosses could be locked up over worker deaths and wage rip-offs if Victoria's Labor government is re-elected, under an election pitch designed to appeal to the blue-collar base.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the major reforms in his speech to party faithful at the state Labor conference in Melbourne on Saturday.
"If an employer's negligence causes death, they will be held to account," Mr Andrews told the conference after recounting emotional stories of families who had lost loved ones.
"That doesn't just mean thousands of dollars in fines, that means millions and it'll mean jail time - up to 20 years."
Employers whose negligence leads to the death or an employee or a site visitor will face fines of almost $16 million and individuals could get up to 20 years jail.
WorkSafe will be responsible for prosecuting employers, but the laws will not apply to volunteer senior officers such as community board .
"I don't think anyone deliberately sets out to kill people at work, but there is employers who take shortcuts, they did all sorts of things to make an extra buck...and it leads to people dying," Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union Victorian secretary John Setka told reporters.
Mr Andrews also announced that employers would face jail time for wage theft or withholding benefits like superannuation.
"Whether you're a convenience store chain or a celebrity chef, if you deliberately and dishonestly underpay your workers, if you deny or deprive them of what is rightfully theirs, you will face jail," he said.
Employers will face a maximum jail time of 10 years and businesses could be fined up to $950,000.
The legal process for ripped-off workers to recover wages will be fast-tracked, with lower court cases heard within 30 days and a simpler process.
"For too long, employers in the hospitality industry have felt that they've had the power to rip off an exploit particularly young workers," Jess Walsh, United Voice Victoria secretary told reporters.
"This is an announcement that puts employers on notice that times have changed."
But business lobby Australian Industry Group say the changes are unnecessary and already covered by federal law.
"Criminalising underpayments and labelling underpayments as 'theft' would deter business owners from employing people and investing," AI Group chief Innes Willox said in a statement.
Hundreds of Labor delegates are at Moonee Valley Racecourse for the annual conference.
At the start of Saturday's proceedings, the Electrical Trades Union re-affiliated with the party, eight years after leaving over the Rudd government's refusal to dismantle the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Saturday's announcement by Mr Andrews was about appealing to Labor's base and the powerful trade unions after a first term full of progressive-left policies like voluntary assisted dying and a safe injecting room trial.
Federal leader Bill Shorten will address the conference on Sunday, which will also debate moving Australia Day from January 26 to May 9 - the date federal parliament first met.
Australian Associated Press
