The Turnbull Government will appoint an independent investigator to inquire into complaints about the conduct of FWC Vice President Michael Lawler, Workplace Relations Minister Michaelia Cash announced this morning.
The Fair Work Commission will engage an external "plain language expert" to redraft the Pharmacy Award before it is user-tested in a pilot as part of the tribunal's four-yearly review of modern awards.
The Fair Work Commission has hit back at Productivity Commission criticism, with its President, Iain Ross, saying that the PC's IR inquiry findings appear to reflect a "misunderstanding of [the] Commission's statutory role and functions".
Lawyers have told the Productivity Commission that its proposals to end tenure for new FWC appointees and to subject members to performance reviews would undermine the umpire's independence, while raising concern about a suggestion that only non-lawyers should determine matters in the proposed minimum standards division.
7-Eleven will settle all underpayment claims and won’t apply any time limits, in the wake of allegations that franchisees systematically exploited employees, company chair Russell Withers has told a Senate inquiry.
The federal government has introduced legislation to outlaw "payment for visa" activities and will give the immigration minister the discretion to cancel the visas of those involved in the practice.
A full bench of the federal court has confirmed that terms in modern awards that provide allowances for hardships experienced by employees working in certain remote locations are not extinguished by the Fair Work Act.
Employers have warned a Victorian parliamentary inquiry that they will seek to reduce wages, benefits or hours if a new state-wide portable long service leave scheme is implemented, while unions have provided detailed outlines of model schemes.
"Tennis tragic" cops serve from the FWC over dismissal; Grain handling industry gets new modern award; and CFMEU expresses concern over Hanna allegations.