actu

Industry and union leaders have identified the need to work together to ensure manufacturing’s place in Australia’s future economic recovery and growth. The Industry Leaders Roundtable virtual forum, hosted by national skill standards developer, IBSA Group, recognised that skills development must be regarded as key to building a vibrant modern manufacturing industry. Ai Group CEO … Continue reading Industry and union leaders call for unified reforms in skills sector →

Over a million secure jobs would be created or supported under a “comprehensive and bold” economic reconstruction plan to help steer Australia through and recover from the COVID-19 crisis, according to an ACTU press statement. The ACTU is calling for a government led National Economic Reconstruction plan and offers up five concrete ideas that are … Continue reading ACTU calls for government-led National Economic Reconstruction plan for job creation →

The Ai Group has urged governments to help reduce cross-border chaos for businesses involved in the movement of goods. Ai Group CEO Innes Willox told Radio National is it “essential” for governments to act to prevent the economy from quick “atrophy”. “We have to have continuity around what is happening at our state borders to … Continue reading Movement of goods across borders must flow, Ai Group says →

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Australian government will look at workplace relations reform, a range of industry groups have reportedly outlined what they would like to see from the federal government. While the manufacturing sector employs roughly one in twelve Australians, productivity in the sector has declined, and only accounts for 6.8 … Continue reading Industry groups’ wishlist for workplace relations reforms →

From July 1 this year, the national minimum wage will increase by 3.3 per cent. This means that Australia’s lowest-paid workers will see a weekly pay increase of $22.20, with the minimum wage being raised to $694.90. This is below the $45/week pay rise the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) called for, yet higher … Continue reading Australian minimum wage increases by 3.3 per cent →

The head of the Australian Council of Trade Unions has said he will push for procurement provisions for government projects, inspired by the “Buy American” US policies following the Global Financial Crisis.

Unions have attacked the Labor Party over its support for the free trade agreement with China, saying the amendments the government has made still leave workers unprotected.

The Australian Industry Group’s Innes Willox will make a stern critique of the current workplace laws today.

While the pay for an apprentice in Australia varies by industry, there’s a strong case to be made that the average wage for this working segment is not enough to live on.