8.1 In making its annual national wage decision, the Fair Work Commission should broaden its Support. analytical framework to systematically consider the risks of unexpected variations in economic circumstances on employment and the living standards of the low paid. 9.1 The Australian Government should amend the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) so that the Fair Work Support. Commission is empowered to make temporary variations in awards in exceptional circumstances after an annual wage review has been completed. 9.2 The Australian Government should commission a comprehensive review into Support. Australia’s apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements. The review should include, but not be limited to, an assessment of: the role of the current system within the broader set of arrangements for skill formation • the structure of awards for apprentices and trainees, including junior and adult training wages • and the adoption of competency-based pay progression the factors that affect the supply and demand for apprenticeships and traineeships, including the • appropriate design and level of government, employer and employee incentives. 12.1 The Australian Government should amend the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) to: Support. remove the requirement for the Fair Work Commission to conduct four yearly reviews of • modern awards add the requirement that the Minimum Standards Division of the Fair Work Commission • review and vary awards as necessary to meet the Modern Awards Objective. To achieve the goal of continuously improving to meet the Modern Awards awards’ capability Objective, the legislation should require that the Minimum Standards Division: use robust analysis to set issues for assessment, prioritised on the basis of likely high yielding • gains
8.1 In making its annual national wage decision, the Fair Work Commission should broaden its analytical framework to systematically consider the risks of unexpected variations in economic circumstances on employment and the living standards of the low paid. Support. 9.1 The Australian Government should amend the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) so that the Fair Work Commission is empowered to make temporary variations in awards in exceptional circumstances after an annual wage review has been completed. Support. 9.2 The Australian Government should commission a comprehensive review into Australia’s apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements. The review should include, but not be limited to, an assessment of: • the role of the current system within the broader set of arrangements for skill formation • the structure of awards for apprentices and trainees, including junior and adult training wages and the adoption of competency-based pay progression • the factors that affect the supply and demand for apprenticeships and traineeships, including the appropriate design and level of government, employer and employee incentives. Support. 12.1 The Australian Government should amend the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) to: • remove the requirement for the Fair Work Commission to conduct four yearly reviews of modern awards • add the requirement that the Minimum Standards Division of the Fair Work Commission review and vary awards as necessary to meet the Modern Awards Objective. To achieve the goal of continuously improving awards’ capability to meet the Modern Awards Objective, the legislation should require that the Minimum Standards Division: • use robust analysis to set issues for assessment, prioritised on the basis of likely high yielding gains Support.
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