Five laws for startups and SMEs that passed through Parliament this week
Tax breaks, changes to unpaid parental leave, and a creative industry support policy have all been voted through in recent days.
‘Employee-like’ IR reforms threaten subbies’ “hard-earned independence”: Master Builders Australia
The peak construction industry association fears the impending rules will be ill-defined and could have adverse consequences for professionals happy to rely on contract work.
Small business leaders fear “unintended consequences” of rushed Same Job, Same Pay bill
Australian small business representatives have joined the resources sector to challenge the Labor government's 'same job, same pay' reforms, claiming a rushed crackdown on the practices of the nation's biggest companies could have unintended consequences for local businesses.
Minimum wage rises 8.6% to $882.80 a week
Australia's minimum wage will rise 8.6% to $882.80 per 38-hour work week from July 1, lifting small business wage bills while bringing the nation's lowest-paid employees closer to the runaway cost of living.
Australian gig workers could lose jobs if ‘employee-like’ reforms push too hard, Uber warns
Australian workers could lose their jobs if new employee-like standards are thrust on the gig economy, rideshare and delivery giant Uber says.
What your small business should know before workplace rules change on June 6
Major changes to Australia's industrial relations landscape are less than a week away from taking effect, as a result of last year's seismic Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill.
From premium rate hikes to cap changes: What we know so far about Victoria’s WorkCover reforms
A major contributor to the unprecedented losses reported by WorkSafe Victoria is the year-on-year increase in accepted mental injury claims.
Here’s why underpayment and exploitation of migrant workers is rife
Recent migrants are twice as likely to be underpaid as migrants who have been in Australia for at least 10 years, and those born here.
ATO warns employers they have two weeks left to tell workers about ‘zombie’ workplace agreements
Businesses whose employees are covered by pre-2010 workplace agreements have just two weeks to inform their staff those pay deals will expire at the end of the year.
Victorian Red Rooster, Cold Rock locations charged with hundreds of alleged child labour law breaches
Victoria's wage watchdog has charged Red Rooster and Cold Rock franchisees over alleged breaches of child labour laws, just weeks before the state overhauls its permit system.
Peter Strong: If we take the ‘long service’ out of long service leave, what’s the point?
The Barr Labor government in the ACT has approved long service leave in an expanded range of industries for employees even though they haven’t worked for the same employer for a long period.
$4 million wage theft fines, potential prison time: Government canvases views on IR crackdown
Businesses found to have severely underpaid workers could face fines in excess of $4 million, according to a plan floated by the federal government as it coordinates its next slate of industrial relations reforms.