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The UK proposes a new points based immigration system

Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK)Amanda Sanders (UK)By Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK) and Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in General, UK, Uncategorized
On 19 February 2020 the UK Government published its policy statement setting out its proposals for a new points-based immigration system. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, free movement of workers will cease and all EU and non-EU citizens will be treated equally from 1 January 2021.  The Government will introduce a new immigration … Continue reading

An employer’s duty to its employees in the context of Coronavirus

Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in Contracts, General, UK, Uncategorized
The World Health Organisation has declared that the Coronavirus is a public health emergency of international concern and the first reported cases have appeared in the UK. What steps should employers be taking in relation to their employees? Travel to affected areas Employers owe a duty of care to their employees to take reasonable steps … Continue reading

A new immigration landscape: Migration Advisory Committee Recommendations

Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK)By Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK) and Aida Geragusian on Posted in General, UK, Uncategorized
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its widely anticipated report on 28 January 2020, setting out its recommendations for a new UK immigration system to be launched in time for the end of free movement of people on 31 December 2020. The Government will be considering the recommendations in the context of its Immigration Bill, expected … Continue reading

Australia – What to look out for in employment law in 2020

David CrossWilliam DawesBy David Cross and William Dawes on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
2019 saw many legislative and jurisprudential developments in employment law which should be top of mind for employers moving forward in 2020.  In this article, we summarise the main issues to watch in 2020. The underpayment crisis – “wage theft” The recent spate of very public self-reported wage underpayments by businesses has resulted in increased … Continue reading

Australia – Things to look out for in WHS law in 2020

Katherine MorrisAnnika MartzBy Katherine Morris and Annika Martz on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
This blog identifies developments in WHS law to watch in 2020: Industrial Manslaughter Offences The number of Australian jurisdictions with industrial manslaughter offences in operation will expand this year. Currently, the ACT and Queensland are the only states with such legislation in operation. The Victorian law, the Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and other … Continue reading

UK set to introduce ‘world first’ right to two weeks’ parental bereavement leave

Joanna MacKenzieBy Joanna MacKenzie on Posted in Contracts, General, UK, Uncategorized
The UK Government has announced that a new right to two weeks’ parental bereavement will come into force from 6 April 2020. The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Regulations (which have been laid before Parliament and are awaiting final approval) implement a statutory right to a minimum of two weeks unpaid leave for all employed … Continue reading

Skilled Worker Immigration Act

Cornelia MarquardtBy Cornelia Marquardt on Posted in Contracts, Europe, General
On 1 March 2020, the Skilled Worker Immigration Act  will come into force. The law completely opens up the German labour market to skilled workers from countries outside the European Union. In addition to the measures set out in our blog the German legislator has included further measures including an accelerated administrative procedure and more … Continue reading

De nouvelles obligations pour les plateformes de mise en relation

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Contracts, Europe, France, General
Les plateformes de mise en relation (comme Uber ou Deliveroo), qui sont de plus en plus utilisées en France, font pourtant l’objet de nombreuses critiques, principalement fondées sur les conditions de travail des travailleurs indépendants qu’elles utilisent dans le cadre de leur activité. Le Gouvernement français s’est donné pour mission d’encadrer l’activité de ces plateformes, … Continue reading

Taking it a day at a time

David CrossNazreen AliBy David Cross and Nazreen Ali on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
Section 96 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act) provides that “for each year of service with his or her employer, an employee [excluding casual employees] is entitled to 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave”.  This entitlement accrues progressively during a year of service according to the employee’s ordinary hours of work and it accumulates from year to year. What is … Continue reading

Supreme Court awards employee compensation amounting to 5% of the revenue of outstandingly profitable patent in Shanks v Unilever

Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK)Seiko HidakaBy Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK) and Seiko Hidaka on Posted in General, UK, Uncategorized
The ownership of a company’s intellectual property is a sensitive subject for many companies. A recent case considered the compensation an employee may be entitled to under the Patents Act 1977 where the patents are held to be of outstanding benefit to the employer. As it is often a company’s employees who create intellectual property, … Continue reading

Wrong interpretation of industrial agreement leads to successful underpayment claim for 150 workers

Samantha MaddernKathryn HunterBy Samantha Maddern and Kathryn Hunter on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
The Federal Court of Australia recently decided in favour of a representative proceeding (more commonly known as a ‘class action’) brought on behalf of approximately 150 workers, and backed by the Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Maritime Employees Union against Thiess Pty Ltd, on the question of payment for travel time at the end of a … Continue reading

New South Wales responds to Marie Boland Review recommendations

Katherine MorrisMelissa CarnellBy Katherine Morris and Melissa Carnell on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
New South Wales has introduced a WHS Amendment Bill (Bill) in response to the recommendations of the Marie Boland report issued in February 2019 (see our blog article here regarding the Marie Boland review). The changes, if passed, will commence on the day they receive royal assent. The Bill proposes to: increase maximum penalties (with … Continue reading

Workplace manslaughter legislation introduced in Victoria (Part 3)

Nicki MilionisTanya PuriBy Nicki Milionis and Tanya Puri on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
Bill update As reported in earlier articles on this blog, the Victorian Legislative Assembly has heard the second reading speech of the Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and Other Matters) Bill 2019 (Vic) (the Bill) and passed the Bill on 14 November 2019. The Bill was sent to the Legislative Council on 14 November 2019 … Continue reading

Workplace manslaughter legislation introduced in Victoria (Part 2)

Nicki MilionisDaniel MacphersonBy Nicki Milionis and Daniel Macpherson on Posted in Australia, General
Yesterday, 30 October 2019, the Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and Other Matters) Bill 2019 (Vic) (the Bill) received its second reading speech in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. The Bill, if passed, provides for the new offence of ‘workplace manslaughter’ to come into operation on a day to be proclaimed or on 1 July … Continue reading

Industrial Manslaughter laws introduced to Victorian parliament today

Nicki MilionisBy Nicki Milionis on Posted in Australia, General
As reported in our earlier article (found here), the Victorian government announced in 2018 that it would introduce an industrial manslaughter offence. The Minister for Workplace Safety, The Hon Jill Hennessy, today announced that new ‘workplace manslaughter’ laws were introduced in Parliament. The Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and other matters) Bill 2019 has … Continue reading

First Industrial Manslaughter prosecution in Queensland

Nicki MilionisDaniel MacphersonBy Nicki Milionis and Daniel Macpherson on Posted in Australia, General
On Friday the Minister for Industrial Relations announced the first prosecution in Queensland for industrial manslaughter under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) (the Act). The industrial manslaughter prosecution has been brought against Brisbane Auto Recycling Pty Ltd (Brisbane Auto) arising from the fatality of a worker killed by a reversing forklift on … Continue reading

Shining the spotlight on dust lung disease in Queensland: a regulatory response for the resources industry

Katherine MorrisPeta WilloughbyMatt WichlinskiBy Katherine Morris, Peta Willoughby and Matt Wichlinski on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
Since 2015, Queensland’s resources industry has been shaken by the re-emergence of dust lung diseases, largely among the State’s large coal mining workforce.  So far, more than 130 workers have been diagnosed with incurable forms of lung disease across Australia, resulting in 6 Queensland deaths in the past 12 months.[1] The State Government has responded … Continue reading
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