Fair Work Changes to Support Employees and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The Fair Work Commission has advised of the following changes to workplace laws to support employees and employers during the coronavirus pandemic.
JobKeeper Scheme
The Fair Work Act has been amended to support the implementation and operation of the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme (JobKeeper scheme) in Australian workplaces. These changes are temporary and will end on 28 September 2020.
The JobKeeper scheme helps employers significantly affected by coronavirus to keep paying their employees, by providing a subsidy administered by the Australian Tax Office. The changes also give eligible employers the ability to give certain directions to and make agreements with their eligible employees to help manage their business.
Find out details about the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme, including how it affects and interacts with Payand Leave entitlements.
Unpaid pandemic leave & annual leave changes to awards
The Fair Work Commission has added a temporary new schedule into 99 awards to provide greater flexibility during the coronavirus pandemic. The temporary schedule gives employees:
- 2 weeks of unpaid pandemic leave
- the ability to take twice as much annual leave at half their normal pay if their employer agrees.
The schedule applies from an employee’s first full pay period on or after 8 April 2020 until 30 June 2020. Find out more at Unpaid pandemic leave & annual leave changes to awards.
The Fair Work Commission has also made other temporary changes to some awards to provide more flexibility during the coronavirus outbreak – see Temporary changes to workplace laws during coronavirus.
Food Relief during COVID-19
Food relief in NSW is available for people who are experiencing hardship and do not have the means to obtain their own groceries. This also applies to people who have been directed to self-isolate. Find out more information at Food-relief-services [pdf-embedder...
Skilled Migrant Employment Program
This fast-track TAFE NSW Statement in English for Employment (800-000357) is offered fee-free to skilled and overseas qualified professionals to prepare them for the Australian job market. Cost: This course is funded by the NSW Government and delivered by TAFE NSW to...
e-Commerce Strategy Development Workshop Series
NSW businesses invited to join a new e-Commerce program in June 2021 On behalf of Investment NSW, Global Trade Professionals Alliance will facilitate a transformative capability development program for NSW businesses which is experiential and engaging, and includes:...
Linking Indigenous Communities with Regional Development in Australia
The OECD recently launched the Report: Linking Indigenous Communities with Regional Development in Australia – a copy of this report and further information is available at: Linking Indigenous Communities with Regional Development in Australia. The report provides...
