The National Employment Standards' weekly hours limit is incompatible with FIFO and 24/7 operations because of their reliance on averaged and extended shifts, and the "reasonableness" test is too burdensome, AREEA says in its submission to the NES inquiry.
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.
In submissions to the NES review, unions are pushing for the Albanese Government to add 10 days paid reproductive leave to the standards, with the backing of a Labor senator, while the Centre for Future Work is advocating for an additional 10 days paid carers leave.
Working from home arrangements have been a big success in the Australian Public Service, with a mere handful of disputes about flexible work requests, the CPSU has told a Senate inquiry into a bill aimed at enshrining WFH rights.
Employers say the National Employment Standards should cap the number of public holidays attracting penalty rates, boost "flexibility" for part-timers and those working from home, and keep the gig economy beyond coverage, while academics support removing the 12-months service qualifier for parental leave.
A House of Representatives committee has begun an inquiry into the "operation and adequacy" of the National Employment Standards, after a referral from Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth.
The Minns Labor Government's rush to pass contentious workers' compensation amendments has backfired, with the NSW upper house sending the legislation to a Greens-chaired inquiry that will get to decide its own reporting date.
Employers should be statutorily barred from using AI to make decisions affecting workers without "human oversight", while the FWC should review the National Employment Standards in response to "significant job redesign" by the technology, says a government inquiry into the digital transformation of workplaces.
A Senate inquiry is calling for guidance on what will qualify as a "reasonable excuse" for failing to comply with a Bill requiring employers with 500 or more workers to set new publicly-tracked gender equality targets that could determine eligibility for government contracts, while the Greens want to lower the threshold to 100 or more employees.
