Penalty rate protection, ban on non-compete clauses and paid leave for stillbirth at top of workplace reforms
Protection of penalty rates, better support for employees experiencing stillbirth and early infant death and a ban on non-compete clauses for some workers are key workplace reform issues, Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has signalled.
In a statement following a meeting of the National Workplace Relations Consultative Council (NWRCC) on Tuesday, Rishworth said the talks were an opportunity for the Government to consult on the delivery of key election commitments.
These include introducing legislation to protect penalty rates in awards, amending the Fair Work Act 2009 to guarantee that working parents dealing with stillbirth and early infant death can continue to access employer-paid parental leave; and a ban on non-complete clauses for employees earning below the Fair Work Act high-income threshold.
Speaking on ABC News Breakfast this morning, Rishworth said the legislation to protect penalty rates in awards was a "top priority" and the Government wants it passed as soon as possible.
She told the ABC the cancellation of paid parental leave due to a stillbirth or early death was a "grey area" and while the majority of employers "do the right thing" some managers and HR departments were grappling with that issue.
"We want to make it crystal clear that where the paid parental leave entitlement exists in the workplace that it cannot be cancelled," she said on the ABC.
In her statement, Rishworth said Tuesday's meeting with union and buisness groups had been a "productive conversation regarding progressing some of our Government’s commitments and continuing the tripartite way of working".
“Labor has a long-standing commitment to constructive consultation on our workplace relations system and these forums are central to that commitment,” Rishworth said.
According to the government, productivity and the role of AI in the workplace were also discussed during the meeting.
The NWRCC is a forum for government, employers, and unions to consult on workplace relations matters.
Participants in the meeting included Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sally McManus, Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox, Master Builders Chief Executive Denita Wawn, as well as other union leaders and representatives of employer groups.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Willox said there is concern about the government's move to legislate penalty rates.
"The penalty rates issue is very complex, especially given issues of how they interact with awards and evolving WFH arrangements, which are now the subject of hearings in the FWC (Fair Work Commision) related to the clerks' award," Willox said as quoted by the Australian Financial Review.
The Ai Group chief executive previously slammed the government's proposal to enshrine penalty rates in legislation as a "job killer".
"The new proposals to enshrine penalty rates in legislation are a job killer that do not represent a serious plan to revitalise our struggling businesses and economy," he said in April.
