Reduced JobKeeper subsidy available beyond September
The Morrison Government has announced its intention to extend the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme beyond September, but payments will reduce whilst business eligibility for the scheme will tighten.
Continue reading “Reduced JobKeeper subsidy available beyond September”High Court Appeal heard on Personal Leave Test Case
Most employers will likely recall that, in August last year, a Full Federal Court handed down a significant – and, for the most part, unexpected – decision, finding that the entitlement to “10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave” contained within the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) was to be interpreted as 10 “working days” for all permanent employees. According to the Federal Court, this entitlement to 10 “working days” per year also extends to part-timers, regardless of the number of hours or days they work per week.
Continue reading “High Court Appeal heard on Personal Leave Test Case”Qld Government seeks to criminalise wage theft
Earlier this month, the Palaszczuk Government introduced the Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Wage Theft) Amendment Bill 2020 (the Bill) into the Queensland Parliament, which, according to Industrial Relations Minister, Grace Grace, will amend criminal legislation “to target employers who commit serious and deliberate wage theft” whilst creating a “simple, quick and low-cost wage recovery process for Queenslanders who suffer underpayment of their wages”.
Continue reading “Qld Government seeks to criminalise wage theft”UPDATE: More flexibility for Paid Parental Leave scheme
In February, we advised clients of the Government’s proposal to allow for more flexibility around the taking of Government-funded paid parental leave. Despite the obvious barriers to Parliamentary business posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Flexibility Measures) Act 2020 (the Act) received Royal Assent on 16 June and came into force on 1 July 2020.
Continue reading “UPDATE: More flexibility for Paid Parental Leave scheme”JobKeeper Disputes round-up
In April, when changes were made to the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) to support the JobKeeper scheme, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) was also attributed new powers to handle JobKeeper disputes. Reportedly, the FWC was flooded with more than 200 applications by the first week of May, but only around 25% of claims fell within the Commission’s jurisdiction. Although roughly 60% of early JobKeeper disputes were withdrawn because they fell outside of the new jurisdiction, the trend of claims being lodged that the FWC does not have the power to determine has continued unabated.
Continue reading “JobKeeper Disputes round-up”Minimum Wages To Increase By 1.75%
The Fair Work Commission has decided to increase minimum wages by 1.75%, raising the national minimum wage by $13 per week to $753.80.
Unions and Employers Battle It Out Over Wage Increase
In submissions made to the 2019-20 Annual Wage Review, employer groups have argued for no increase to minimum wages while unions have asked for a 4% increase from July 2020.
Continue reading “Unions and Employers Battle It Out Over Wage Increase”
IR System Not Up To Scratch: PM
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described Australia’s industrial relations system as not fit-for-purpose, retreating to tribalism, conflict and ideological posturing.
Change to 2020 Ekka Public Holiday
Last month, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the Ekka public holiday designated for the Brisbane City Council area would be rescheduled from Wednesday, 12 August to Friday, 14 August for 2020. The change is only applicable for one year.
On 16 June 2020, Minister for Education and Industrial Relations, Grace Grace, announced in Parliament that a number of other council areas across Queensland – including Logan City – had also determined to move their scheduled Show Holiday to Friday, 14 August 2020.
Continue reading “Change to 2020 Ekka Public Holiday”WorkPac Fails in Bid to Have Employee Declared a Casual
A full Federal Court has ruled against labour hire company, WorkPac, finding that a ‘casual’ black coal mining employee was not a casual employee and therefore entitled to be paid for leave taken during his employment. The decision follows a similar case (Skene) of 2018, also involving WorkPac, which caused significant concerns among employers.
Continue reading “WorkPac Fails in Bid to Have Employee Declared a Casual”
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