ALMOST 90 per cent of small businesses are considering cutting staff hours because of the new industrial laws, a poll suggests.
The Retailers Association says it is a damning indictment on the government's new Fair Work system.
The snap email poll found 89.4 per cent of small businesses were considering reducing staff hours because of the increased wage costs of Fair Work.
Another 91.8 per cent said they were less confident their businesses would grow in 2010, while an overwhelming 96.5 per cent said they needed more information about the changes.
The poll included responses from about 85 of the association's members, executive director Scott Driscoll said.
That's much more than the 30 responses the government used in predicting Fair Work will create 5000 jobs over the next decade.
"These have come from a cross-section of our membership base and it's not from one particular industry, or a particular geographical area," Mr Driscoll said.
"I am confident they're an accurate representation of the industry."
The association predicts 3000 retail jobs will be lost as a result of the new industrial relations laws - a figure rejected by Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard.
AAP
