Faced with "simply unsustainable" growth in its caseload, the FWC is seeking to improve efficiency, starting with general protections cases involving dismissals, up by 27% over five years, partly on the back of paid agents using them as a "substitute" for unfair sacking claims, the tribunal's president said today.
The National Construction Industry Forum has today unanimously endorsed a reform blueprint for the building and construction industry that pushes for the Albanese Government to give the FWC and FWO dispute resolution and enforcement powers.
WA's Cook Labor Government will create two new public holidays from 2028 and change the dates of multiple existing public holidays under amendments to be introduced into Parliament this week.
The Greens will use their balance of power in the Senate to seek to amend the Fair Work Act to give workers the right to work at least two days a week from home if it is "practical and reasonable", echoing Victoria's recent policy proposal.
The Albanese Government should force companies to share productivity gains with employees via higher pay rises, extra leave or shorter hours, according to research using the retail sector to challenge "conventional wisdom" that productivity growth flows through to workers.
Greens finance and workplace relations spokesperson Barbara Pocock says the party would "value" a seat at the Albanese Government's economic reform roundtable, where it would push for a four-day work week and an easier path for parents returning to employment, while the ACTU and the Productivity Commission have revealed more of their roundtable agendas.
Workers would be earning $350 more a week if wages had kept up with productivity growth since 2000, and and in its productivity pursuit the Albanese Government should focus on pushing wealth down the income scale by strengthening labour laws and institutions, rather than perpetuating the "trickle down" myth, according to new Australia Institute research.
The ACTU will use next month's economic reform roundtable to demand the Albanese Government compel employers to reach AI "implementation agreements" with workers that guarantee job security and any necessary retraining before they can introduce the technology.
The Productivity Commission will be seeking feedback on soon-to-be-released draft recommendations for next month's economic reform roundtable, as it calls for the adoption of a "growth mindset" to renew Australia's "sputtering" productivity growth.
Resilience, productivity and sustainability will be the focus of the looming economic reform roundtable, and RBA governor Michelle Bullock, Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood and treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson will each kick off a day of the three-day assembly, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said today.
