The week's news, opportunities, events and issues from the world of work.
Last updated 24 January 2011
BizWatch
Queensland Clears Way for Extra Plumbers
21 January—the Queensland State Government has installed new flexible arrangements to allow interstate plumbers and drainers to assist with the massive flood recovery work in Queensland. The licensing process has been streamlined to enable interstate tradespeople to start work as soon as possible. Any interstate licensee wanting to perform regulated work in Queensland can contact the Plumbing Industry Council Licensing Team on 07 3247 3618 or the plumbing regular in their jurisdiction who will advise on the process to obtain an immediate Queensland licence.
New Tasmanian Mine Safety Regulations
20 January—Workplace Standards Tasmania has announced that it intends for new mine safety regulations to be phased in from 28 February. The proposed amendments will require the mine operator to appoint a Site Senior Officer who will be responsible for monitoring and ensuring safety at mine sites including monitoring the mine safety system, as well as new duties for employers, workers, the self-employed, contractors and visitors to mines. Workplace Standards Tasmania has released a summary of the new laws on its website.
Company Director Faces Court
21 January—the Fair Work Ombudsman has launched a prosecution against the former operator of a northern NSW transport company for allegedly underpaying 15 truck drivers almost $20,000. It is alleged that 15 drivers who transported general freight between various distribution centres in NSW are owed a total of $19,280 back-pay as a result. Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says the decision to prosecute was made because of the significant amount involved and the employer’s failure to rectify the matter.
Long-Term Unemployment Remains the Greatest Risk
20 January—the number of long-term unemployed increased from 16 per cent in 2009 to 18 per cent in 2010, but generally, the duration of unemployment fell from 16 weeks to 14 weeks in the same period, according to the latest Job Search Experience report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Long-term unemployment remains the biggest risk, with people who remain unemployed for one year or more being far less likely to be registered with Centrelink or Job Services Australia, and less likely to answer newspaper job advertisements, suggesting they are potentially less connected to support services or actively engaged in searching for work. Reported difficulties in finding work included issues such as lacking necessary skills, education and experience. Creating and nurturing networks, undertaking professional development and staying optimistic by doing volunteer work or small jobs would appear to remain important strategies for unemployed people during their job search.
ABS Job Search Experience Report
Fair Work Australia Finalises Research Program
20 January—to assist it in its annual wage review for 2010-2011, Fair Work Australia has decided to complete a number of research projects. The program was created after consultation with representatives from industry groups, associations, unions and government. The agency has published summaries of the projects to be undertaken on its research pages.
Fair Work Australia Research Section
Learn. Earn. Legend! Program Enters Second Year
19 January—the Gillard Government has confirmed the Learn. Earn. Legend! Program will be maintained for a second year, the Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development and Minister for Sport, Mark Arbib has announced. The program is designed to assist young Indigenous Australians by promoting the value of school, further education and training. A member of the AFL Indigenous All Stars team will participate in the AFL Players Association Indigenous Camp from 29 January to 5 February to encourage young Indigenous Australians to keep learning and become a legend in their community.
NSW South Coast Employers Receive Fair Work ‘Thumbs Up’
18 January—The Fair Work Ombudsman audited the record-keeping and pay slips of 137 businesses across Nowra, Sussex Inlet, Milton, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma and Bega, finding that only 19 had problems. Executive Director Michael Campbell commented that “the level of compliance and cooperation from businesses was encouraging.”
MoneyWatch
MyCareer Scholarship
18 January—The MyCareer Education Centre has announced a scholarship competition that will award a $5,000 study fund to one lucky person who registers with mycareer.com.au before 28 February. The Centre has over 6,000 courses available and scholarship entrants must say in 30 words or less how the study will assist their career.
Visit the MyCareer Education Centre
Fair Work Recoveries
In the week beginning 17 January, Fair Work announced the recovery of over $682,000 on behalf of Australian workers. Funds were recovered on behalf of workers in NSW, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. Funds were recovered for both country and city workers. Industries affected included transport, hospitality, engineering, trades and security. Money was recovered for backpackers, juniors, casuals and an executive officer. Failures that resulted in underpayments included failing to pay a four hour minimum for casual workers, failure to pay minimum hourly rates, paying a flat weekly rate despite large quantities of regular overtime, failure to properly account for annual leave, failure to pay penalty rates and failure to manage Roster Days Off entitlements.
- $20,000 back-pay for two workers at Alice Springs
- Regional SA transport company to back-pay workers $142,000
- Wollongong security officers back-paid $36,400
- Melbourne restaurant allegedly underpaid Indian cook $24,000
- More than $35,000 recovered for underpaid workers in WA’s Kimberley Region
- Darwin audits recoup $39,000 for Mitchell Street and Wharf Precinct workers
- Northern NSW company director faces court over alleged underpayment of truck drivers
- Wagga Transport Company fined for underpaying employees almost $150,000
- Perth security officers back-paid $217,000
IdeaWatch
Lights for the Blind
4 January—Using LED lights to illuminate the position of Braille writing on public signs isn’t something that automatically comes to mind when discussing ways to make life better for the vision impaired, but as such impairments can mean partial as well as total loss of sight, this simple shift in thinking helped Rob Caslick to develop better Braille signage that helps those with partial impairment to locate public Braille signs more easily. An exhibition is underway in Pyrmont New South Wales at the Medland Metropolis until the end of January 2011.
Failing to plan could be planning to fail for young people: NCVER
12 January—Career planning is the difference between reaching a goal because it’s been set, or just drifting along and failing to get anywhere. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has looked at high-achieving 15 year olds in their latest report “Lost Talent: The occupational ambitions and attainments of young Australians” to find the extent to which achievement matches aspirations.
SafeWatch
Safety Obligations the Same for All Workplaces: SafeWork SA
20 January—SafeWork SA has confirmed that all workplaces in South Australia are subject to state Occupational Health and Safety laws regardless of the corporate structure used.
NSW WorkCover Investigates Incident at Olympic Park
20 January—WorkCover is investigating an incident in which a 13 storey high tower crane apparently lost its load of steel mess screens which fell, landing on a nearby parked vehicle and scattering onto a nearby worker causing serious injuries to that person.
WA WorkSafe Lays Charges in Mr Ward Case
19 January—WorkSafe will prosecute the State of Western Australia (Department of Corrective Services), government contractor G4S Custodial Services Pty Ltd (formerly GSL Custodial Services Pty Ltd) and the two drivers involved in the death of Mr Ward in January 2008. Aboriginal elder Mr Ward, 46, died from heatstroke in January 2008 after being transported from Laverton to Kalgoorlie in the back of a van in which the air conditioning is alleged to have either been faulty or not working. A Coronial Inquest was completed in May 2009, with the State Coroner Alastair Hope concluding that all four parties contributed to the death. In June 2010 the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled out criminal charges against any of the four parties because a prima facie case did not exist. The following month, after consideration of the Coroner’s findings, the WorkSafe WA Commissioner made the decision that WorkSafe inspectors would investigate the incident to determine whether the Occupational Safety and Health Act had been breached. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said today that the case was a good example of the breadth of occupational safety and health legislation. “The fact that four parties have been charged illustrates that the responsibility for keeping the workplace safe extends to a number of different parties in the workplace who have different roles,” Ms Lyhne said. “It also demonstrates that safe systems of work must be in operation in workplaces in order to ensure the safety of everyone – not just the workers, but also anyone else who has reason to be in that workplace.”
Investigation into Tarlee Shearing Fatality
19 January—a 29 year old man suffered serious injuries after being struck in the neck by the shears he was using to shear a sheep. Colleagues drove him to Kapunda Hospital where he died shortly after arrival.
Be Safe During Heavy Rains
17 January—WorkCover NSW is advising people to be careful when assessing damage and carrying out repair work caused by the recent flooding across parts of NSW.
Howard Springs Death During Electrical Work
17 January—a 66 year old male electrical contractor was killed in the Howard Springs area last Thursday afternoon. Preliminary inquiries by NT WorkSafe indicate the deceased, contracted to repair damage to a private residence’s electrical infrastructure used a ladder when attempting to connect a fallen service line and may have been electrocuted when coming into contact with the line. The cause of death will be determined by the Coroner. NT WorkSafe urges all electrical contractors and workers clearing storm damage around electrical installations to read the Safety Alert recommendations.
WorkSafe NT Safety Alert, “Working with Energised Electrical Lines”
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