As we hit mid year, the employment landscape across Asia has started to move away from only focussing on Covid-19 related emergency measures. Our Asia Employment, Pensions and Incentives update this month looks at: the recent decision in Malaysia in Ahmad Zahriv AIMS Cyberjaya Sdn BHd in relation to fixed term employment contracts; the restrictions … Read more

From 1 July 2020, the high income threshold will be increased to $153,600. This amount is significant for 3 reasons: Unfair dismissal eligibility: Employees may have access to unfair dismissal if their annual rate of earnings is less than the high income threshold. Unfair dismissal compensation cap: Half the amount of the high income threshold … Read more

The Government has today published a further Treasury Direction dated 25 June 2020 setting out the legal framework for claims under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) in respect of periods from 1 July 2020.  This gives effect to the Guidance amended on 13 June to cover “flexible furlough” (summarised here).  From 1 July 2020, … Read more

Background The Victorian Wage Theft Bill 2020 (the Bill) was passed by both houses of the Victorian Parliament on 16 June 2020. The Bill imposes significant penalties, including jail time, against employers who underpay their staff. The Bill has been in the making for a number of years, and was a key election promise for … Read more

The Chancellor has this evening confirmed the following changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS): Claims for periods after 30 June 2020 will only be possible from employers who have previously used the scheme in respect of employees they have previously furloughed for a 3 week period ending no later than 30 June – … Read more

In the long awaited decision of WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato [2020] FCAFC 84, the Full Federal Court finds ‘casual’ WorkPac employee entitled to leave and holiday payments. Background Robert Rossato was employed by labour hire company WorkPac Pty Ltd (WorkPac) as a casual coal mining worker across companies within the Glencore Group from 28 … Read more

On Friday 22 May 2020 the Treasury published a further Direction (dated 20 May) modifying the legal framework for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).  Claims for payment under the CJRS made after the publication of the further Direction on 22 May will have to comply with the new, amended version of the Schedule.  Claims … Read more

1) This morning the Government announced that an online Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will be launched on 26 May for small and medium-sized employers to recover Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees due to COVID-19-related absence. Employers with a PAYE payroll scheme that was created and started on … Read more