Targeted Fair Work Investigations - next time it could be your industry
Earlier this year, there was a targeted investigation in Melbourne’s inner south and west food precincts by Fair Work investigators who recovered $684,543 in wages for 1,004 underpaid workers.
Privacy Reminder and COVID-19 VIC Update
Victorian employers that collected ‘vaccination information’ in accordance with the state Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (COVID-19 Vaccination Information) Regulations 2022 must now destroy that information within the next 14 days, as the Amendment Regulations have now been revoked.
Annual Wage Review 2023
The Fair Work Commission has just announced its decision regarding the 2023 Annual Wage Review.
Safety failure – Fines for not addressing key workplace hazard
Boral Resources (Vic) Pty Ltd was charged with six breaches of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, relating to workers' exposure to respirable crystalline silica at its Montrose quarry.
Government Funded Paid Parental Leave – Change from 1 July 2023
Currently, the Federal Government offers Paid Parental Leave of 18 weeks to primary carers with a separate two-week paid initiative for partners called ‘Dad and Partner Pay’.
Workcover Premiums – Recoup your Overpayments (noting premiums are increasing 1 July 2023)
Workcover Premiums will be increasing across each State from 1 July 2023 which will put an added pressure on many businesses.
Unsafe unloading processes kill two workers in quick succession, Best Benchtop and Stone Pty Ltd and Australian Rong Hua Fu Pty Ltd were heavily fined.
Two businesses have been fined a total of $800,000 over separate but alarmingly similar fatalities involving the handling of heavy materials in confined spaces.
Family and Domestic Violence Leave
Effective 1 February 2023, full time, part time and casual employees will be able to access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave each year as part of the National Employment Standards (NES) in the Fair Work Act.
Respect@Work Amendment Bill has passed
Parliament has now passed the new legislation which ensures the onus is on employers to take proactive steps to end harassment, violence and discrimination in the workplace.
Payment for Public Holidays
Australian National Public Holidays are New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Workplace Behaviour
In September, the Federal Government introduced the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022 (Cth) (Bill) which are important reforms to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in response to the 2020 Respect@Work report on workplace sexual harassment.
Working in Heat
Before we know it, summer will have arrived. Working in heat can be hazardous and harmful for workers and Employers have duties under WHS legislation to manage risks to worker health and safety; including those associated with working in heat therefore taking appropriate precautions against the known risks of working in heat and/or air pollution.
The scrapping of COVID-19 isolation rules – what this means for your business
On Friday 30 September, the National Cabinet announced its decision to scrap mandatory isolation requirements for COVID-19 cases from 14 October 2022.
Your Public Holiday Questions Answered
On Thursday 22 September, Australians would have a “one-off public holiday” – a national day of mourning to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II.
Unpaid Pandemic Leave – Reintroduced to some Awards
On 8 April 2020, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) made the decision to vary 99 awards as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minimum Wage Increase Announcement by the Fair Work Commission effective 01 July 2022
The Fair Work Commission has exceeded the government’s suggested 5.1% increase for the national minimum wage and announced a 5.2% national minimum wage increase to $21.28 per hour or $812.60 per week.
Removing the $450 per month threshold for Superannuation Guarantee eligibility effective 01 July 2022
With effect 01 July 2022 employers will be required to make superannuation guarantee contributions to their eligible employee’s super fund regardless of how much the employee is paid per month.
Increase in Superannuation Guarantee Contribution
Under the current superannuation guarantee, employers must pay superannuation contributions of 10% of an employee's ordinary time earnings when they earn $450 per month before tax. rate will increase up to 12%
Sick Leave for Casuals – What does this mean for Victorian businesses?
The Victorian government has launched a two year trial ‘Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee’ Scheme that will pay sick leave for casual workers. Controversially, the Scheme does not replace the 25% loading provided to casual employees in lieu of receiving paid entitlements.
