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Landmark COVID-19 awards deal struck
26 Mar 2020 | Media Release
In a landmark deal struck between the Australian Services Union and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry this morning, an application has been lodged with the Fair Work Commission to amend the Clerks – Private Sector Award 2010 which covers more than a million people around the country performing clerical, payroll and administrative duties in businesses of all sizes and all industries.
ACCI Workplace Director Scott Barklamb said today’s deal was an”historic move during an unprecedented crisis”.
“This deal provides significant aid to a number of business in uncertain times, allowing more businesses to stay in business and keep more people in jobs. It is a practical, flexible, common-sense solution during the coronavirus pandemic.”
“If approved, the deal will start to provide businesses with the flexibility they so desperately need to adapt to ever-changing circumstances whilst ensuring employees are in turn protected during this difficult period.
“I want to thank the Australian Services Union for working with ACCI so constructively to get the best deal possible for workers and businesses.”
The application seeks to provide relief to business and employees during the pandemic by:
- Allowing employees and employers to agree to change ordinary hours of work whilst an employee is working at home. This should give employees expanded options to help manage their job around things like schooling children from home during the day without an employer facing additional costs for work being conducted out of usual business hours.
- Allowing a business with one weeks’ notice to direct an employee to take annual leave if it decides to close-down its operations.
- Allowing staff to work more flexibly across classifications, provided it is safe to do so and the employee has the necessary qualifications.
- Allowing for employers to direct employees to take annual leave
- Increased flexibility in taking leave such as double leave at half-pay, where employers and employees agree.
- Allowing employers to engage casual and part-time employees for shorter shifts.
- Giving employers flexibility to reduce hours for full and part-time staff, whilst allowing employees whose hours are reduced to take on another job or ask to engage in training or additional study.