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Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews was due this afternoon to issue a statement on his independent contractors legislation, which is listed to be introduced into the Senate later today.

With no requirement on employers to provide the information up-front, 50 employees have lodged unfair dismissal claims under Work Choices only to find out later their company employed 100 or fewer workers, while nine "operational reasons" decisions went employees' way before Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews last week intervened in an AIRC appeal.

New Zealand's radical 1991 Employment Contracts Act didn't lead to lower labour productivity, according to new university research.

The AIRC has ordered two carpet company directors to attend conciliation hearings with the textile union over a disputed offer of AWAs to 300 workers at the Feltex factory in Melbourne, which they are buying from receivers.

Workers at troubled car parts maker Ajax Fasteners downed tools today and occupied its Melbourne factory, accusing its owners of seeking to appoint a receiver despite a six-month rescue deal agreed in August to secure employee entitlements and guarantee supplies to major car makers.

More than 40% of mothers who resume work within 15 months of giving birth are doing so earlier than they would prefer due to financial pressure, highlighting the need for more paid parental leave and better arrangements for mothers to take leave without being penalised, according to research by a University of Queensland academic.

The Federal Court has upheld an OEA ban on employees taking leave to attend this Thursday's union protests against WorkChoices, saying it does not breach the new Act's freedom of association provisions. The CPSU is now pursuing an urgent appeal.

The employer organisation that has been most vocal in supporting AWAs - the AMMA - claims that abolishing them could result in an annual loss of export revenue of between $6.6 billion and $9.9 billion in the resources sector alone.

Mothers and fathers who have "low quality" jobs that lack security, control, flexible start/finish times and access to paid family leave are more than twice as likely to experience symptoms of conditions such as depression and anxiety as those in "high quality" jobs, while their children's risk of psychological conditions also doubles, according to groundbreaking research by an Australian National University academic.

The Shop Union, which represents many tens of thousands of juniors, hasn't given up on getting rid of junior rates after the Government and Labor combined to entrench discounted wages. The union will move to get rid of the "worst abuses" of junior rates through award variations.