By Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Allan Milostic
A HUGE thank you to everyone who attended the combined Tourism Whitsundays and Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce Christmas party (Thursday, November 30), at the Reef Gateway Hotel.
It was a great night with everyone enjoying the mixed company and relaxed format.
As the chamber looks forward to 2025, we look forward to working more closely with TW for the benefit of all our members.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS (IR)
Whilst it’s a busy time for all businesses, and many are looking forward to a well-earned break, please don’t forget to keep an eye on new and existing industrial relations rules, to ensure you are on top of your employment responsibilities.
These are industrial changes that have been in the pipeline for a while but take effect from December 6, 2023.
There will be new requirements for employers regarding fixed term contracts.
These relate to how long the contract can be, how many times they can be renewed, and consecutive contracts with consequences to the employment status of that contractor – such that they become considered a full-time employee.
There are more industrial relations changes on the horizon with the national Closing Loopholes Bill considering a new definition for casual employment, the contested idea of wage theft, right of entry, and conditions for employee-like workers. It is not a time to be out of touch with IR changes.
The Chamber is exploring options to provide industrial relations expertise to its members to ensure they are informed and compliant moving forward.
We understand many larger businesses will have inhouse HR expertise, but it is the small businesses in the region that will benefit from such a service.
In the meantime, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman to learn more.
NEXT EVENTS
Keeping our members informed is a cornerstone of our education and events program.
We have release dates for our 2024 calendar and invite you to ‘save the date’. See our website for more details.
The highlight of the calendar will be the chamber’s inaugural Whitsundays Business Conference – a day of inspiring speakers, practical workshops and networking – on Friday, May 31, 2024.
The entire business community is welcome.
