The Senate has this afternoon passed both the Federal Government's amended independent contractors legislation and its amendments to Work Choices - meaning they can now be put to the Lower House before Parliament rises at the end of next week for the Christmas break.
The OWS has begun investigating complaints by two under-18 retail workers that they were put under pressure to sign AWAs that had no provision for parental consent and were then paid under the discounted rates of the individual deals, despite refusing to sign.
The work-and-spend cycle is one explanation why employees work long hours - though not all those who fall into the category see themselves as trapped there, a new study shows.
The OWS is investigating an AWA offer to a former farmhand on a cotton farm near the NSW/Queensland border owned by potential National Party candidate and former NFF president Peter Corish.
More than 100,000 people protested against Work Choices today at nationwide events where unions stepped up their campaign for a vote against the Howard Government at next year's federal election.
The Iemma Government is preparing to trial new procurement guidelines that require suppliers of goods and services to comply with state awards and meet a no disadvantage test.
The Howard Government's proposed amendments to its Independent Contractors Bill haven't pleased one of the key interest groups that pushed for the legislation, and it is now calling for the removal of Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews from the portfolio.
Employer fined $16,000 over sacking of non-union member in win for ABCC; Hospitality industry targeted in OWS compliance campaign; and Hulls keeps IR role in Bracks' reshuffle.
New stand down provisions the Howard Government is seeking to insert into the Workplace Relations Act give employers broad scope to send workers home if affected by strikes, machinery breakdowns or other stoppages outside the control of the employer. And in a surprise change revealed last night, workers will be allowed to waive the requirement to have an AWA for seven days before signing it.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has rejected union calls for an employee ballot on its new offer of AWAs that it says "buys out" protected award conditions including overtime and shift allowances in exchange for higher base pay than the existing collective agreement.
