In a development sure to be watched closely by employers, WorkSafe Victoria is inquiring into the COVID-19 death of a 46-year-old call centre employee identified as a close contact at his workplace's Tier 1 exposure site.
IR Minister and Attorney-General Michaelia Cash says a meeting this morning between government agencies, employers and unions will focus on how businesses can comply with COVID-19 work, health and safety obligations, "including without mandating the vaccine".
The High Court's Rossato judgment is already having a knock-on effect, with a FWC full bench questioning its effect on Deliveroo's appeal of a finding that a rider was an employee and proposing not to determine it until the High Court decides two more cases.
Uber is again facing a challenge to claims it has no employment relationship with drivers, a rideshare workers' group going after the company for alleged record keeping and payslip breaches in a case seeking penalties to boost its advocacy war chest.
The High Court will next Wednesday hand down its much-anticipated judgment in labour hire company Workpac's challenge to a finding that coal mineworker Robert Rossato had an entitlement to paid leave while engaged as a casual on consecutive contracts for almost four years.
The ACTU has today asked FWC president Iain Ross to initiate a process for making short-term changes to awards in response to the "developing" COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.
The FWC will consider Menulog's application to create an On Demand Delivery Industry Award, after a full bench expressed tentative views that the miscellaneous award does not provide a "fair and relevant" safety net and that the fast food award does not cover the sector.
The High Court has this morning granted the ABCC special leave to appeal a full Federal Court finding that the CFMMEU's recidivism should not be factored into penalty calculations.
Deliveroo says it won't accept a FWC finding that a sacked rider was an employee entitled to protection from unfair dismissal or that it reflects how riders work in practice, but the TWU says the ruling puts Australia in line with other countries that recognise gig workers' rights.
The FWC has in finding a Deliveroo rider was an employee who must be reinstated criticised the platform for a "callous and perfunctory" dismissal "most notable for its absence of compassion".
