Economists, labour market researchers, and unions have hit back at claims more deregulation is the key to productivity growth, in submissions to a Senate inquiry.
A right-wing think tank has told a Senate inquiry that productivity is an increasingly unreliable measure and other statistics provide a better gauge of the economy's health.
Now is the time to consider the effects of introducing humanoid robots into the workforce, taking heed of the gaps the AI transition has exposed and minimising the detrimental impact on workers, an academic says.
The need for legislation to enshrine two days a week of working from home for all employees is "not clear", as many employers and workers have now found a hybrid "sweet spot" without any government intervention, according to the Productivity Commission.
Labour law expert Ron McCallum says ahead of this year's annual debate named in his honour that a "wellbeing index" for employers, and stronger measures to boost mental health, fairness and inclusion, could all help drive up productivity.
The FSU says employers are now on notice that they must have genuine business grounds for refusing flexible work arrangements, after the FWC made orders to enable a Westpac employee to work from home to care for her children, finding "no question" her role can be "performed completely remotely".
Multi-employer bargaining is on the chopping block and the definition of casual employment might follow suit, but the Coalition has changed its tune on working from home and tax cuts, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley announced today.
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.
