A new report commissioned by Australia's largest general insurance company has sounded the alarm on the increasing number of independent contractors who are missing out on workers' compensation, income protection, leave, superannuation and other entitlements enjoyed by employees.
A former Workpac supervisor, who lost his job while he was under investigation, is accusing the company of failing to treat him fairly or protect him as rumours circulated in the community that it sacked him for selling drugs and bullying.
The Morrison Government is looking to establish a national system of labour hire regulation rather than having "multiple various schemes" across different jurisdictions, Senate Estimates hearings have been told.
The Morrison Government is looking to establish a national labour hire registration scheme early next year, according to a briefing given to IR Minister Christian Porter soon after he took up his new role.
The labour hire company that last year laid out $150,000 to settle an underpayments claim brought by five fruit pickers has settled another case on behalf of more than 20 workers with "acceptable monetary terms" and the right to return to work.
Victoria's labour hire regulatory scheme has opened to mixed reviews, welcomed by the academic who headed a landmark inquiry into the sector but dubbed a "blunt instrument" by a key employer group.
Employers should pay close attention to their "extended workforce" before being forced to do so by increased regulation and public scrutiny, according to former Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James.
A large pharmaceutical company is obliged to convert labour hire workers to permanent positions after a year's continuous employment, the FWC ruling that the relevant agreement clause was a permitted matter because it promoted job security.
The FWC has rejected a multi-pronged attempt by four retrenched dockworkers to establish that they were not genuinely redundant, finding their employer's offer to re-engage them as casuals did not detract from its need to reduce its full-time workforce.
