Australia

Australia Introduces the Right to Disconnect After Working Hours

August 30, 2024August 30, 2024

On 12 February 2024, the Australian Federal Parliament passed the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023, which introduces, among other changes, a right for all employees to disconnect outside of working hours.

The right to disconnect will enter into effect 6 months after the legislation receives royal assent (expected soon) for businesses with at least 15 employees and 18 months after royal assent for businesses with fewer than 15 employees.

Employment Practices

Australia Increases Superannuation Contribution Rate

July 11, 2024July 11, 2024

On 1 July 2023, the Australian government increased the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contribution rate by 0.5% to 11% of employees’ earnings. The SG rate is scheduled to increase by 0.5% each year until it reaches 12% of employees’ earnings on 1 July 2025.

Australia Combines and Expands Parental Leave Entitlements

April 1, 2024April 1, 2024

UPDATE: From 1 July 2024, government-paid combined gender-neutral parental leave will increase from 20 weeks to 22 weeks. Parental leave entitlements will increase again to 24 weeks from July 2025 and 26 weeks from July 2026.

Leave

Australia expands unpaid parental leave entitlements

September 20, 2023September 20, 2023

On 22 June 2023, the Australian government passed the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023 expanding unpaid parental leave entitlements to ease leave restrictions on employee couples.

Employment Practices Leave

Australia introduces paid family and domestic violence leave [Updated]

November 29, 2022November 29, 2022

The Australian government recently passed an amendment bill to provide employees with 10 days of employer-paid family and domestic violence leave. The Fair Work Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced on 28 July 2022, by the Australian Labor Party following the May 2022 federal election.

Employment Practices

Australia adds an additional public holiday for 2022

September 16, 2022September 16, 2022

The Australian government recently announced an additional employer-paid public holiday on Thursday, 22 September 2022, for the mourning of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England.

Employment Law

Australia increases minimum wage

July 13, 2022July 19, 2022

The Australian Fair Work Commission (FWC) has increased the national minimum wage by 5.2%, effective 1 July 2022. Modern Award minimum wages also increased by 4.6% per week, effective from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2022, or 1 October 2022, based on industry.

Employment Practices

Australia increases superannuation contribution rate and concessional contribution caps [Updated]

July 1, 2022July 8, 2022

On 1 July 2021, the Australian government increased the superannuation guarantee contribution rate by 0.5% to 10% on earnings up to the new maximum contribution base of AUD 58,920 per quarter. The concessional contribution cap has also increased to AUD 27,500. The increases will help stimulate Australia’s post-pandemic economy and support a better retirement for eligible workers.

Employment Practices

Australia introduces an obligation for employers to confirm any existing super account linked, or ‘stapled,’ to newly hired employees

November 18, 2021November 19, 2021

When no choice of a superannuation fund is made by a newly hired employee, employers or their tax agents are now mandated to source the name of their new employee’s existing superannuation fund from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The […]

Employment Practices

Australia increases minimum wage

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021

The Australian Fair Work Commission (FWC) increased the national minimum wage by 2.5%, effective 1 July 2021. Modern award minimum wages also increased by 2.5% in three different stages depending on the industry. Modern award minimum wage increases will be […]