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ARTICLE · 20 APRIL 2020

Ch-Ch-Changes: Modern awards amended in light of COVID-19

Bartier Perry Solicitors
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New schedules will be added to 99 of the 121 modern awards, which cover about 4.36 million private sector employees.

AustraliaCoronavirus (COVID-19)
James Mattson
James Mattson
Ryan Murphy (Formerly With Bartier Perry)
Ryan Murphy (Formerly With Bartier Perry)
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A Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission yesterday announced that new schedules will be immediately added into 99 of the 121 modern awards, which cover an estimated 4.36 million private sector employees.

In summary, the changes are:

  1. to provide up to 2 weeks of unpaid 'pandemic leave', and
  2. to allow employees and employers to agree to take annual leave at 'half-pay'.

These amendments will apply from the next full pay cycle of any employee covered by one of the amended awards, and will apply until 30 June 2020 or such date as extended.

The Commission decided against more amendments at this stage, "in order to provide a quick response to the current crisis and in an effort to attract broad support for the measures proposed".

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