A Sydney University think tank has warned that a post-coronavirus reversal of globalisation could reduce labour productivity by up to 12%, when Australia could enjoy a 9% labour efficiency boost by matching world-leading levels of internationalisation.
Just days after the defeat of the Morrison Government's legislation to further regulate the conduct of employee organisations and their officials, IR Minister Christian Porter has released a discussion paper on cooperative IR that seeks feedback on the role unions can play in fostering harmonious workplace relationships.
Regulator APRA is calling for submissions on a proposed shake-up of financial institutions' pay structures that would ensure no more than half of an employee's bonus is linked to fiscal performance measures, allow "clawbacks" and make boards oversee their entire workforce's remuneration.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will ask IR Minister Christian Porter to review the IR system with a view to expunging barriers to "shared gains" for employers and employees, while he has also reiterated the Government's commitment to reintroducing the "ensuring integrity" legislation to target "thugs in militant unions".
So-called 'comic' employment contracts replacing dense legalese with images have been coolly received by both the peak employer and employee bodies, each expressing a preference for the power of words when it comes to interpretation and enforcement.
Early adopters Sydney Water and the ASU are again making use of the FWC's New Approaches program in negotiations for a new three-year agreement, providing workers with detailed proposals for conditions and pay rises after four days early this month of "interest-based" assisted talks.
Australia's major banks say they will overhaul retail employees' pay structures to reduce the importance of incentives, commissions and variable rewards.
The Federal Government should consider requiring APS agencies to report to the WGEA on their performance against gender equality targets, University of NSW researcher Sue Williamson told an IR academics' conference this month.
The FWC has made broad recommendations for "corrective action" at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority after it dismissed an employee's bid for an anti-bullying order but observed that interpersonal dysfunction within his team could have the "severest consequences".
Victoria's Civil and Administrative Tribunal has found an executive search company doesn't need an exemption from equal opportunity laws to conduct its female executive recruitment program, but has used its business as a case study, setting out the steps for other applicants to self-assess whether they are already exempt.