In April 2020 the Commission of its own initiative varied 99 awards to insert a new Schedule X to provide unpaid pandemic leave and the option to take twice as much annual leave at half pay. Schedule X was to operate until 30 June 2020 (see previous alert). Since April, Schedule X has been extended […]
The Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Wage Theft Amendment Act 2020 (Qld) commenced on 14 September 2020. The new legislation allows for the prosecution of wage theft as an offence of ‘stealing’ by amending the definition of stealing and introducing a higher maximum penalty where there is ‘stealing’ or ‘fraud’ by an employer with respect […]
JobKeeper 2.0 takes effect from 28 September 2020 The Australian Government announced the introduction of the JobKeeper scheme in March 2020 to assist employers and employees significantly affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19 (JobKeeper 1.0). Due to renewed concern regarding the economic impacts and the spread of the Coronavirus, the Government announced in July […]
On 13 August 2020, a High Court majority overturned the Full Federal Court’s judgment in the well-publicised decision of Mondelez v AMWU. Last year’s judgement of the majority of the Full Federal Court confirmed that personal/carer’s leave was to be accrued and taken by reference to “days”. The result of this decision was that two […]
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced on Friday 7 August 2020 that the easing of what had been advised, changed eligibility thresholds for businesses and employees to qualify for the JobKeeper wage subsidy program. The Treasurer’s announcement comes as the significant second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria shuts down major parts of Victoria’s economy. The Government has […]
The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission has varied the Real Estate Award in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by adding a new Schedule I to apply from an employee’s first full pay period commencing on or after 6 August 2020. The Schedule applies to employees who were employed as a commission-only salesperson as […]
The Fair Work Commission has extended the entitlement to unpaid pandemic leave and annual leave at half pay until 30 September 2020 in the: Fast Food Award Hair and Beauty Award Retail Award Storage Services Award. This means that Schedule X (which provides these entitlements) which was due to expire on 31 July 2020 will […]
The Fair Work Commission has revisited its previous decision not to grant paid pandemic leave for health services awards due to ‘recent developments in the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Victoria’. The Commission has now decided there is justification for at least three health services awards to be varied, by inserting a Schedule […]
JobKeeper to be extended by six months – changes apply The JobKeeper Payment is currently due to finish on 27 September 2020, however the Federal Government has announced today the subsidy scheme will remain available for eligible businesses (including the self-employed) and not-for profits until 28 March 2021. The JobKeeper Payment will become two-tiered and […]
The Fair Work Commission as part of its 4-yearly review of modern awards has recently made substantive changes to three awards in the building and construction industry. The changes to the Awards came into effect from the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2020. Building and Construction General On-site Award Clause […]