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Increase in Unfair Dismissal Cap
Fair Work Australia announced on Tuesday afternoon that the high income threshold in unfair dismissal cases will increase to $123,300. This means from 1 July 2012, employees who are not covered by an enterprise agreement or a modern award, and whose earnings are $123,300 or greater are not protected from unfair dismissal. The high income threshold is calculated by reference to: the employee’s wages; amounts dealt with on the employees behalf or at the employer’s direction for example, superannuation payments over and above the superannuation guarantee charge; and any agreed money value of non-monetary benefits for example, motor vehicles. Payments which cannot be determined in advance, reimbursements and contributions to superannuation in accordance with the superannuation guarantee charge (currently 9%) are not included in calculating earnings. For dismissals occurring on or after 1 July 2012, a cap on the compensation payable will be $61,6...
29 June 2012Annual Wage Review 2012 Increase
On 1 June 2012, Fair Work Australia (FWA) handed down its third annual wage review under the Fair Work Act 2009. As a result of the review, modern award minimum wages will increase by 2.9 percent from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2012, with commensurate increases in hourly rates on the basis of a 38 hour week.
The increase will also apply to transitional Australian Pay and Classification Scales, State Reference Transitional Awards and Division 2B State Enterprise Awards. Wages in the National Training Wage Schedule will also be adjusted.
The national minimum wage will be increased to $606.40 per week or $15.96 per hour. This is an increase of $17.10 per week or 45 cents per hour. The casual loading for award/agreement free employees has increased from 22 percent to 23 percent. These increases will also apply from
Fair Work Australia Announces Campaign Focusing on the Structural Metal Products Industry
The Fair Work Ombudsman (the FWO), in its media release last week, announced a new campaign focussing on employers in the structural metal manufacturing industry and including companies that produce metal products used in the construction of buildings and other structures such as doors, gates, window frames, staircases, trusses, scaffolding, sheds and gutters. Initially, the campaign will have an educational focus however, in late in 2012, the FWO intends to contact a sample of approximately 250 employers nationally, requesting them to provide their employment records for audit. The FWO will be focusing on ensuring that employers are paying the correct minimum rates of pay, penalty rates, loading and allowances, as well as ensuring appropriate employment records are being maintained. In the media release (dated 13 April 2012), Nick Wilson (the FWO), stated as follows: “If inspectors find minor or inadvertent contraventions, our ...
27 April 2012