7 April, 2020
In this summary, we bring you our most recent insights for the week on immediate and evolving employment issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, Drew Pearson, Partner in our Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety team, explores the JobKeeper Payment announcement and the latest employment implications in our COVID-19 Webinar series. We have also summarised below the most relevant COVID-19 legal insights in relation to employment, industrial relations and safety issues.
At any time you can also access our most up-to-date legal insights from across our global network via our COVID-19 hub.
COVID-19 Webinar series: Liquidity, Employment and Contracts (Australia)
We are pleased to share with you the third in our series of webinars covering the business challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Carolyn Pugsley, Executive Partner, is host to a panel of Herbert Smith Freehills experts discussing the most important COVID-19 topics of the week. Paul Apathy, Partner in our Finance team, discusses the temporary changes to corporate insolvency laws, Drew Pearson, Partner in our Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety team, explores the JobKeeper Payment announcement and the latest employment implications of COVID-19, and Erin Wyeth, Partner in our Projects team, concludes with potential pressure points in contracts, including those in the force majeure and change in law regimes. Click here to access the webinar.
People: JobKeeper Payments to subsidise wages
We have summarised the key elements of the JobKeeper Payment scheme announced on 30 March 2020 by the Australian Government. Businesses significantly affected by COVID-19 will be eligible to participate in the new scheme. Click here to read more.
We have summarised the key elements of the JobKeeper Payment scheme here.
People: Flexibility provisions in Modern Awards
We have outlined some of the key changes made to the Clerks, Hospitality and Restaurant Industry awards, made by the Fair Work Commission to address and respond to the impact of COVID-19 on employees and employers covered by these awards. Click here to read more.
A short summary of these changes is also available here.
People: Temporary amendments to Modern Awards concerning leave entitlements
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) announced that it proposes to temporarily vary 103 modern awards. The FWC has confirmed that both proposed entitlements will be ‘workplace rights’ for the purpose of the general protections provisions in the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Click here to read more.
For further information, please contact:
Kirsty Faichen, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
kirsty.faichen@hsf.com