Employees will have to routinely seek a medical certificate from a doctor every time they are absent from work on sick or carer's leave - incurring significant costs if bulk billing is unavailable - because there is no provision in the Work Choices legislation for obtaining a certificate afterwards, the ACTU told the Senate inquiry into the bill today.
The AIRC has prescribed the notice periods required for employees seeking to use the new rights established in this year's work and family test case, after it issued final orders to give effect to the ruling. However, it could be just weeks before the Howard Government's Work Choices scraps the new regime.
The AIRC today left the door open to proceed with the ACTU's proposed minimum wage case next year, despite Federal Government urgings that the case be allowed to lapse pending the commencement of its Work Choices legislation.
The ABS Labour Price Index, released today, shows annual wage growth across the economy has hit 4.2% in trend terms, the highest level since 1998, while private sector growth has reached a new record of 4%.
The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce has appealed to the Howard Government to maintain its federal awards, saying they provide a level playing field that ensures employers in its industry don't undercut each other on wages.
The ACCI has told the Senate inquiry into the Work Choices legislation that it would argue in future minimum wage fixing cases under the Fair Pay Commission for "less focus on comparativism and reduced scope for unions to attempt to have safety net wages pursue redistributive functions".
The NFF will advise larger farms to consider incorporating part of their business for employment purposes, but keep the rest unincorporated for tax reasons, the farmers' organisation told the Senate inquiry into Work Choices today.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet has promised a campaign of civil disobedience as part of a new "movement for change" against the Howard Government, as hundreds of thousands of people attended union rallies today against the Work Choices legislation.
The Work Choices legislation should be amended to reduce its overly generous sick/carers leave provisions and to restrict access to the new default provision of five weeks annual leave for shiftworkers, the Australian Industry Group told the Senate inquiry into the bill today.
The AIRC today refused to grant a s127 order to McCain Foods to stop AMWU members at its Wendouree plant near Ballarat in Victoria from taking part in tomorrow's national union protest against the Work Choices legislation.
