3 days ago
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth does not rule out portable leave and remote work penalty rates
The Albanese government has left the door open to allowing workers to receive penalty rates while working from home, as well as the possibility of a federal portable leave scheme.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth did not rule out either possibility but told Sky News Sunday Agenda she was focused on delivering on election promises.
The Albanese government has promised to legislate penalty rates, forcing employers to pay overtime for work performed outside of normal conditions
The Australian Industry Group has brought forward the case that, under the clerks' award, some workers could get penalty rates while working from home.
'Let's be really clear, our commitment we made in the election was protecting penalty rates in awards, that is the safety net,' Ms Rishworth said.
'We are working through and consulting on the details but the principle is pretty clear, and that is we are going to protect penalty rates in the awards system.
'Because that is a safety net and of course enterprise bargaining is available to others.'
She added that the government's plan to legislate penalty rate protections would not interfere with enterprise-level negotiations.
Ms Rishworth also left the door open to introducing a federal portable leave scheme—a policy advocated for by unions such as the Australian Workers' Union.
Portable leave would allow employees to carry entitlements like annual or long service leave across different jobs and employers.
When asked whether she could rule out implementing the scheme during Labor's second term, Ms Rishworth responded that she would 'consider' different ideas put forward.
She reiterated that her top priority was fulfilling Labor's existing promises, including legislating to protect penalty rates and supporting a rise in the minimum wage.
The Fair Work Commission will announce its minimum wage decision on Tuesday 3 June 2025.
Unions have asked for a 4.5 per cent increase, while employers want 2.6 per cent, roughly the rate of inflation.
There is an expectation the increase will be around 3 per cent.
'We have put forward a submission that has called for an economically responsible real wage increase,' Ms Rishworth said.
'We don't want to see our minimum and award wage workers go backwards.'
