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Unpaid work new focus of Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has announced a focus on unpaid work experience arrangements. A report commissioned by the FWO [click here] has found that unpaid trial work, unpaid internships and other forms of unpaid work experience arrangements are a growing feature within the Australian labour market. Examples include: requiring persons (particularly young workers) to undertake unpaid job trials or training beyond that required to ascertain their suitability for the position; or unpaid internships - that is, unpaid work experience arrangements which may or may not form part of a vocational placement. The report highlights that unpaid internships are prevalant in many professional industries where graduates outweigh the job opportunities available such as the areas of media, legal services, advertising, marketing, PR and event management. The Fair Work Ombudsman, Nick Wilson stated: "There are many quite legitimate work-base...
13 February 2013Increase to penalties for breaches of the Fair Work Act
In accordance with its budget policy, the Government has increased the value of Commonwealth penalty units from $110 per unit to $170 per unit. This represents the first penalty unit increase since 1997. This means that penalties for breaches of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) have increased. As a result, the maximum penalty per breach that may apply against a corporation has increased from $33,000 to $51,000, and for individuals from $6,600 to $10,200. The new penalty unit value will only apply to breaches that occur on or after 28 December 2012. This means that the prior penalty unit value of $110, will continue to apply to proceedings which were commenced prior to 28 December 2012 or offences committed prior to 28 December 2012. Under the legislation, penalty unit values will be reviewed every three years. If you would like more information about increases in penalties or the application of penalties generally, please contact National Workplace Lawyers on +61 2 ...
1 February 2013Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal update
Introduction Further to our prior articles regarding the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal [click here] and [here] to view, the Road Safety Remuneration Act 2012 (Cth) (the RSR Act) and the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (the Tribunal) commenced on 1 July 2012. The following article recaps the main aspects of the RSR Act, the Tribunal and its annual work program. Objects The object of the RSR Act is to promote safety and fairness in the road transport industry. The Tribunal's role in this area primarily relates to addressing the relationship between remuneration and safety in the industry by, amongst other things: ensuring that road transport drivers do not have remuneration-related incentives to work in an unsafe manner; and removing remuneration-related incentives, pressures and practices that contribute to unsafe work practices. Functions The fu...
17 December 2012