Almost two-thirds of manufacturers employing more than 100 people are experiencing difficulty in recruiting skilled workers, underlining the need for business and government to develop strategies to close the "skills gap", according to the Australian Industry Group.
A permanent sub-committee made up of union, staff and management representatives will monitor workloads under a new enterprise agreement struck between the federal Department of Health and Ageing and five unions.
A standalone Work and Family Act containing new legal rights would be established, along with a Work and Family Commissioner to oversee it, while working parents would be entitled to up to 30 hours a week of free childcare, under the work/life policy the Democrats will take to the October 9 federal election.
A Cairns adventure tourism operator has been ordered to pay a former manager $26,750 in damages, lost earnings and interest after being found to have discriminated against her on the basis of her pregnancy and parental status.
The main perceived benefit of being a casual worker - the loading - is less valuable than believed, with many workers in reality getting an hourly premium of less than 10%, according to new research by ACIRRT.
Pay rises under private sector enterprise agreements have sunk to a 15-month low, in another indication that wages are failing to respond to the tightening labour market.
Patrick Corporation will implement its new enterprise agreement in 12 of its 13 ports next month, after Brisbane container terminal workers today voted it down for a second time.
Star City casino workers in Sydney have voted up a new enterprise agreement - struck after a protracted bargaining process in which a similar deal was voted down - that delivers a 9.25% pay rise over two years plus a range of additional benefits.
