The Albanese Government has outlined for the first time the details of how it might implement its "same job, same pay" proposal that it framed to ensure labour hire arrangements are not used to undercut employees' pay and conditions.
Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has taken issue with Adelaide University Professor of Law Andrew Stewart's prediction that the FWC, if takes a strict approach, will approve "very few" bids to negotiate multi-employer deals in the new single-interest bargaining stream.
Law firm Ashurst says the looming multi-employer bargaining laws might explain the results of a survey in which 65% of employers say they intend to initiate agreement negotiations in the next six months.
The Productivity Commission says a review of the Albanese Government's new multi-employer bargaining measures should consider amending the Competition and Consumer Act so the ACCC can play a role.
New RBA analysis says productivity and wages have slowed for employers in heavily award-reliant sectors and they are "seemingly less likely to attract staff and grow", but the Centre for Future Work says the answer is "stronger awards" and a collective bargaining recovery.
The Law Reform Commission is seeking feedback on its proposal to tighten protections from discrimination by religious schools against teachers and other workers, but with revised exemptions to permit them to engage those who support their ethos.
Enterprise agreements filed with the FWC in the fortnight to November 18 paid average annualised wage increases of 3.4%, substantially outpacing the 2.8% rises in DEWR's data for June quarter agreements but well below consumer price inflation of about 7%.
Enterprise agreements filed with the FWC in the fortnight to October 21 paid average annualised wage increases of 3.5%, substantially outpacing the 2.8% rises in DEWR's data for June quarter agreements but well below the 7.3% rate of consumer price inflation.
Agreements lodged with the FWC in the fortnight to September 9 delivered annual rises of just 2.4% – the lowest in the short history of the Commission's "real-time" bargained wage data – after education deals effectively paying 1.7% a year to more than 10,000 workers dragged down the average increase.
The Productivity Commission has warned against "shoehorning" gig economy platform work into other employment categories, arguing it could jeopardise their benefits for consumers and workers.