Fair Work Commission announces action plan to assist small business employers

Fair Work Commission

By Sooraj Sidhu and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal Yesterday, the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) president Iain Ross responded to reports commissioned last year, which urged the establishment of a ‘Small Business Division’ of the Fair Work Commission and the reduction of red tape associated with unfair dismissal and adverse action claims. The news comes following […]

Fair Work Ombudsman’s Workplace Basics Campaign

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has recently consulted with the NRA regarding the first phase of the Workplace Basics Campaign, a national campaign focusing on small business employers and their compliance with fundamental workplace obligations. As part of this first phase, Fair Work Inspectors will be contacting around a thousand employers in multiple industries across […]

Vulnerable Workers Bill amendments: what you need to know

On Tuesday 5 September 2017, the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017 was passed with amendments by both houses of Parliament. The Bill was given Royal Assent by the Governor-General on 14 September 2017, becoming an Act (the VW Act) which will re-write parts of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act). In brief, the VW Act: […]

Employer fined $72,000 for exploiting international student

Written by Ben Desir and Troy Wild, NRA Legal Jia Ning Wang, owner and operator of the Fire and Stone Restaurant, has been received a $20,366 penalty, and his company Golden Vision Food and Beverage Services Pty Ltd has been penalised an additional $51,830 after it was found that he deliberately exploited young international students. […]

Fair Work inspectors to audit 1600 hair and beauty salons

Hair and beauty salons and retail outlets are the focus of a new Fair Work Ombudsman compliance campaign that will target businesses along the east coast of Australia. Fair Work Inspectors will conduct audits of at least 1600 businesses in randomly selected urban and regional areas of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The campaign […]

Supermarket accused of underpaying

IGA owner accused of underpaying

by Angela Szczepanski and Troy Wild, NRA Legal Fair Work Ombudsman commences legal action against IGA for underpaying employees The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has commenced legal proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court against a Melbourne IGA supermarket operator who allegedly underpaid six employees and submitted false records to the FWO. The FWO have filed […]

Preparing for a knock at the door

Ian Parker

by Ian Parker, Migration Specialist, NRA Legal “Knock, Knock” One of the oldest jokes alive is the Knock Knock joke. We all know it, and often read books full of them as kids, or least I did anyway. However, as we ourselves get older, and move into the workforce, the idea of a Knock Knock […]

FWO rolls out regional campaigns

NRA legal employment law advice

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is currently running campaigns in multiple regions across Australia to assess compliance and help employers and employees understand their legal rights and obligations. According to the FWO, the campaigns include compliance and education activities, such as providing a range of tools, resources and assistance to businesses to ensure compliance with […]

Baiada Group serves as warning

FWO warns businesses to monitor worker obligations within their supply chain and network Natalie James, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), has encouraged businesses to use Baiada Group, Australia’s second largest poultry processor and supplier of Lilydale and Steggles, as an example and to get ahead of any compliance issues in their supply chain or network. […]

Supply chains matter for compliance

The Fair Work Ombudsman, Natalie James, is putting all retailers on notice when it comes to neglecting labour supply chains. James says that “a company that cares about its reputation and recognises the growing value of that reputation in a competitive market place must take an interest in what’s going on in its labour supply […]

FWO Imposes Record Penalties to Director Underpaying Security Guards

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) declared the Director of security company ‘Step Ahead Security Services’ had deliberately underpaid eight casual employees hired as security guards by over $20,000 over a three-month period. The Director was ordered to personally repay the employees as well as paying penalties of over $50,000 with the FWO hailing this case […]