Today leading restaurateurs met in Sydney to discuss the impact of proposed Award Modernisation laws, which would see the federal hotels award apply to restaurants. The meeting, which included prominent industry leaders like Peter Doyle (Peter Doyle at the Quay), Matt Moran (Aria), Con Dedes (Flying Fish), Tonci Farak (Wildfire), Tony Bilson (Bilson’s) and Brien Trippas (AIH), was convened to discuss the way forward for the industry. The group decided that the highest priority is halting the... ...Read more »

The leading industry body for the restaurant sector is worried about the potential impact of the Award Modernisation proposal on the industry next year. “It is disappointing … that we are under great pressure from Australian Government reforms that could see the end of our industry, particularly in New South Wales,” CEO John Hart said this week. The restaurant industry is slated for massive change in 2010, Mr Hart suggested, when wage costs (in NSW for a business open weekends... ...Read more »

A Melbourne bakery has been fined $16,500 in the Melbourne Magistrates Court for underpaying four former employees a total of $12,000.The penalty follows legal action launched by the Federal Workplace Ombudsman against Timryl Pty Ltd, which trades as the Universal Bread and Roll Bakery at Tullamarine. Workplace Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell reported that inspectors began investigating Timryl after receiving complaints from former employees. Mr Campbell said Timryl underpaid the night... ...Read more »

Lower interest rates and the first economic stimulus package have helped shore up jobs in the retail industry, according to an analysis of new ABS jobs data, the Australian National Retailers Association said today. ANRA, which represents a number of Australia’s largest retail organisations including supermarket chains Coles, Woolworths and Franklins, reported that growth in the number of retail job losses had begun to subside. “The ABS Labour Force figures for the February quarter show... ...Read more »

The retail sector may have shed up to 8,000 full-time jobs in February, the Australian National Retailers Association said today, while the fast-food sector will soon face a significant rise in labour costs. The latest unemployment figures released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show unemployment has risen to 5.2% with 53,800 full-time jobs lost. The retail sector employs 15% of the Australian workforce. “Retail jobs are the most vulnerable when there is a loss of confidence in the... ...Read more »

The Australian National Retailers Association, which represents the likes of Coles, Woolworths and Franklins, is advocating a national plan for payroll tax relief which they believe could assist cash strapped employers save up to 55,000 jobs. ANRA CEO Margy Osmond wrote to the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers two weeks ago proposing a national plan which would cut payroll tax to a uniform rate of 4%. “Cash payments to households and infrastructure spending will stimulate the economy,... ...Read more »

Retailers in NSW are calling on the NSW Government to implement new measures to help reduce business costs and support jobs during the economic downturn. At the Jobs Summit in Sydney yesterday retailers prepared a wish list, which included: • Full deregulation of trading hours, similar to the ACT or the Tasmanian model; • Creating a single ‘can do’ contact point in the Premier’s office to facilitate retail investment in NSW; • Reducing red tape – drawing on the Victorian... ...Read more »

A dozen Federal workplace inspectors will converge on the Sydney Fish Markets at Pyrmont today to ensure workers are being paid properly. The Federal Workplace Ombudsman advised that employers will be randomly audited as part of its national campaign targeting the food services sector. Inspectors are checking on almost 1000 businesses around Australia, including retail and wholesale poultry and seafood suppliers, grocers, smallgoods stores, bakeries, butchers, dairy producers, coffee shops and take-away... ...Read more »

A Melbourne restaurant allegedly underpaid a kitchen hand more than $47,000 over five years because it considered him to be “handicapped”, an investigation by the Federal Workplace Ombudsman has discovered. The national pay protector has initiated legal action against two former directors who have revealed to inspectors that they paid the man what they thought was “reasonable” because they believed he was “sick in the head”. They are Elias Mazloum, of Oak Park... ...Read more »

Butchers and bakers are the latest target of a campaign to stamp out exploitation of workers in South Australia.The Federal Workplace Ombudsman has written to almost 500 businesses alerting them to a crackdown on the food services industry. Up to 100 employers will be randomly selected for audit by workplace inspectors to ensure staff are being properly paid. Executive Director Michael Campbell said the decision to closely scrutinise butchers and bakers follows an increase in complaints. “One... ...Read more »