The House Employment, Education and Training Committee today presented the report of its inquiry into the Fair Work Commission Annual Report 2019-20.
Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘The inquiry examined how policy responses designed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted, and may continue to impact the Fair Work Commission’s caseload.’
Mr Laming commented, ‘The Commission’s caseload increased by eight per cent during 2019-20, with significantly more unfair dismissal applications and workplace disputes than in other years associated with the beginning of the pandemic. However, the JobKeeper program and the temporary variation of industry awards provided flexibility in workplaces and prevented a larger surge in applications to the Commission.’
‘While the states and territories had to implement policies quickly to keep Australians safe and to preserve jobs and incomes, public health orders were often implemented at short notice and inconsistencies between jurisdictions made it difficult for businesses and workers to know what their rights and responsibilities were. Australian governments should strive to provide clear, consistent, and timely advice to employers and employees about policies that may give rise to workplace disputes’, Mr Laming said.
Mr Laming concluded, ‘The Committee is satisfied the Commission is well placed to mobilise strategies and resources in the event there is another peak in its caseload.’
The report and further information about the inquiry are available on the Committee’s inquiry website.
