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The main reason they go to "sole trader" is that it relieves them of most of their OHS, Super, overtime penalty rate and notice/retrenchment costs.
Well actually there is only one difference between sole trader and casual labour through hire firms. And it is the real main reason. Penalty rates. Every thing else is the same weather you are sole trader or labour hire. Always gets down to trying to avoid paying people for what they are worth, weather that be through the awards or by merit. There is one distinct disadvantage of a sole trader. You no longer have the safety net of the award system. You have agreed to work for wages and conditions that may be less than those covered by the awards. I say may but in reality I`m sure that any one working as a sole trader will be at some disadvantage. No employer would be going down the path of hiring sole traders for there advantage. At least with the award system you are guaranteed basic wages and conditions.