The Federal Government's Closing the Loopholes acts passed Parliament in February, but they are set to have an impact on Australian industrial relations law long into the future.
Representatives from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be in Shepparton on Monday, April 22, to provide their take on the new laws during a workshop at the Shepparton Club.
The chamber said the workshops would provide local businesses with insights into the major elements of the legislative changes, which it says are likely to have far-reaching consequences for employers, employees, independent contractors, principals and gig workers across Victoria and Australia.
Chamber chief executive Paul Guerra said businesses of all sizes should make the workshop a priority.
“There’s a lot in here for every business and it impacts every business of every size," he said.
“We’re doing this as a free session to make sure that everybody’s fully informed on what the new changes in industrial relations are."
The laws include a new definition of the casual employee, introduction of a new criminal offence for wage theft, employee rights to disconnect, minimum standards for some 'gig' economy workers and changes to right of entry regulations for union representatives.
“There’ll be no excuse for ignorance," Mr Guerra said.
"There’s an opportunity to come along to a free session and make sure you’re fully informed.
“That’s the thing with these new IR laws, they impact everybody, so if you’re a business owner or you’re a business leader you need to get across these industrial relations changes."
The chamber will also run an additional session with its policy and advocacy team which is working on a new regional policy.
The sessions will run for an additional 30 minutes, during which the chamber will share its key focus areas and opportunities for input.
Mr Guerra said the chamber and the Victorian Government recognised the great potential the regions had for contributing to the state's growth.
“We have a strong view that regional Victoria can add so much to the economy of Victoria," Mr Guerra said.
"We often think metropolitan Victoria before we think regional. I think COVID has changed a lot of that.
"I think the regions can in many ways propel Victoria to its next level of success.
“I caught up with the premier on Tuesday this week, and we spoke about exactly this, the power of regional Victoria, and I think her comment to me was, ‘Well, you’re talking to the converted’, so I think there’s awareness in there but I think there’s some work to do in terms of how we get regional Victoria to do that."
The workshop is being held at the Shepparton Club, 455 Wyndham St, Shepparton, between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Monday, April 22.
It is free for both members and non-members.