Coalition's plans for industrial relations
COALITION'S PLAN FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS:
ENTERPRISE BARGAINING
* The Fair Work Commission will have more scope to approve agreements that fail the better off overall test for two years after the bill passes
* Coronavirus impact and agreement between workers and bosses on enterprise agreements will be taken into account
* The commission will have a new deadline of 21 days to approve enterprise agreements
* Third-parties including unions will not be able to intervene in enterprise agreements at the approval stage
CASUAL EMPLOYMENT
* Casual employment defined as work offered "without any firm advance commitment"
* Employers shielded from backpay claims for so-called "double dipping" of casual loading and leave entitlements
* Casual workers will have boosted rights to request conversion to permanent roles after 12 months but are not able to compel bosses who decline to participate in arbitration
GREENFIELDS
* The Fair Work Commission will be allowed to approve pay and conditions agreements for major projects of up to eight years, rather than the current limit of four
* It applies to projects worth $500 million or $250 million if deemed in the national interest
* The changes are aimed at reducing potential industrial action midway through big resources and infrastructure projects
AWARDS
* Part-time employees under the 12 retail, accommodation and hospitality awards could negotiate with bosses to work more than agreed hours without overtime
* Employers with employee agreement can change duties and locations across the retail and hospitality awards
* The government has asked the commission to consider "loaded rates", allowing employers and employees to agree on higher base pay instead of penalties
WAGE THEFT
* Will be made a criminal offence at a federal level for the first time with penalties of four years' jail or $1.1 million in fines for individuals and $5.5 million in fines for employees
* It will only apply to the most egregious, deliberate and systematic forms of underpayment rather one-off underpayments, inadvertent mistakes or miscalculations
* Company fines for wage theft have been increased across the board, ranging from $19,980 to $666,600
