Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Labour hire, Human Resources |
Founded | 1951 |
Founder | Norman Miles |
Headquarters | Melbourne, Victoria |
Number of employees | Approximately 20,000 |
Parent | Persol Holdings |
Website |
programmed |
Programmed Maintenance Services Limited, also known as Programmed is a Japanese Labour hire and Recruitment company, specialising in blue-collar services. [1] It is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Programmed is a wholly owned subsidiary of Persol Holdings, a human resource conglomerate headquartered in Tokyo. [2]
Programmed Maintenance Services originated as a business named 'Miles Paint Service' in 1951. It was founded as an Australian company, headquartered in Perth. [1]
In 1999, Programmed was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the ticker (PRG).
In 2015, Programmed acquired Skilled Group, for $650M. [3] The acquisition resulted in financial troubles for the company. [1]
Programmed was acquired by Persol Holdings (Japan's largest labour hire corporation), in 2017 for $778M. [1] [2] Following this acquisition, Programmed was delisted from the ASX. [4]
In 2016, a major industrial dispute arose at Carlton & United Breweries' (CUB) Abbotsford plant, after workers at the facility were told that their de jure employer would become a subsidiary of Programmed. [5] This resulted in a strike after it was proposed that applicable enterprise bargaining agreement at the workplace would have a significantly lower rate than previously; with a wage only 50 cents above the applicable Industrial award. [6]
The controversy heightened when it was realized that the agreement had been established in 2014, by a subsidiary of Programmed named Catalyst Services; and was voted upon by just three casual workers at the time. [6]
Most of the workers at the facility refused to sign onto their new employment contracts under those conditions, and began a picketing campaign that lasted 6 months. [6] In December 2016, an agreement was reached between the Electrical Trades Union of Australia and CUB resolving the dispute. [6]
In 2009, Programmed became a major sponsor of Fremantle Football Club, being featured on the teams Away Guernseys. [7]