The Federal Court has knocked back a last-minute attempt by foreign-based companies to stay a Fair Work Ombudsman prosecution for allegedly underpaying four Filipino oil rig workers on subclass 456 visas.
The unit responsible for enforcing the Victorian Government's construction code and guidelines has told the Federal Court today that the state instruments could operate to fetter the Fair Work Commission's dispute settlement powers.
Heading interstate to Melbourne to attend the Australian Open tennis is no excuse for filing an unfair dismissal application late, but relying on advice from the tribunal registry might be, according to recent FWC decisions.
In a ruling that might have implications for other remote workers, the ATO has ruled that the 168 hours per month worked by up to 350 employees on two-weeks-on/two-weeks-off rosters on a WA gas processing plant should count as ordinary hours for the calculation of their superannuation entitlements.
A court has awarded a steelworker more than $150,000 in award redundancy entitlements because he wasn't offered acceptable alternative employment when transferred to an inferior job on the same pay and hours.
A court has ruled that employee "complaints or inquiries" about the exercise of management prerogative only constitute a workplace right if they involve the employment relationship, while stressing the critical importance of good relations between employees in small businesses and raising doubts about the place of industrial democracy.
The NSW government has followed Victoria in releasing new IR guidelines for the state's construction code of practice, and is also requiring compliance on privately-funded projects.
