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Labor Pledges to Protect Penalty Rates as Unions Push for Wage Theft Tribunal

The Albanese government commits to safeguarding penalty rates for three million workers, while unions urge the establishment of a simpler system to recover underpaid wages.

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Overview

  • Labor has vowed to legislate protections for penalty rates in workplace awards, impacting approximately three million workers.
  • Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt confirmed plans to enshrine penalty rates as a key feature of minimum workplace terms and conditions.
  • Unions, led by ACTU Secretary Sally McManus, are pressuring Labor to create a wage theft tribunal to streamline the recovery of underpaid wages, bypassing the Federal Court’s small claims process.
  • The Australian Retailers Association faces government opposition over a proposal to modify awards, allowing managers to trade penalty rates for higher salaries.
  • The Coalition has unveiled its Entrepreneurship Accelerator policy, offering tax offsets to new small businesses, contrasting sharply with Labor's worker-focused wage protections.