The FWC's Expert Panel has awarded a 3.5% increase to the national minimum wage and modern award minimum wages, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The decision affects approximately 2.6 million award-reliant workers.
The Work Health and Safety Amendment Bill 2026 passed the Senate with crossbench support, introducing explicit duties for PCBUs to manage psychosocial hazards and a new industrial manslaughter offence carrying penalties of up to 25 years imprisonment for individuals.
The FWC reports a 23% increase in enterprise agreement approvals this quarter, driven by hospitality and retail. The new better off overall test (BOOT) provisions are bedding down, with unions reporting improved outcomes for casual workers.
The seasonally adjusted participation rate reached 67.2% in May, the highest on record. Female participation hit 63.1%, driven by gains in healthcare, education, and professional services. The unemployment rate held steady at 3.8%.
Serious workers compensation claims rose 4.2% year-on-year, with mental health conditions now accounting for 12% of all serious claims — up from 8% pre-pandemic. The median time lost for psychological claims was 15.6 weeks, compared to 5.2 weeks for physical injuries.
The government introduced the Fair Work Amendment (Same Job, Same Pay Enforcement) Bill 2026, closing loopholes in the existing labour hire provisions and extending coverage to the gig economy and on-demand platform workers.
Safe Work Australia published a new model Code of Practice for managing psychosocial hazards at work. The code provides practical guidance on risk assessment, control measures, and consultation requirements under the WHS Act.
The FWC issued new guidance on annualised salary arrangements under modern awards, clarifying reconciliation obligations and record-keeping requirements following a spike in underpayment claims in the professional services sector.
The FWO recovered $28.2 million in unpaid wages and entitlements for 18,500 workers in the March quarter, up 15% from the same period last year. Hospitality and construction remain the highest-enforcement sectors.
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