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20-Jun-08 10:15 [Asia Pacific]
Australian workers given right to request flexible working New legislation in Australia will give employees the right to request flexible working arrangements and improved parental leave.
The federal government's ten new employment standards will also cover maximum weekly hours, notice of termination and redundancy pay.
Prime minister Kevin Rudd issued the standards in a joint press conference with deputy prime minister Julia Gillard on June 16th, stating that they are an important part of industrial reform.
"This is a core building block for the future of a fair and flexible industrial relations system for all Australians in the federal system," said Mr Rudd.
He added that the employment standards are a "safety net" that cannot be "stripped away", which are fairer for workers and simpler for employers.
The employment standards will represent about 85 per cent of employees, who will be entitled to a copy of the new fair work information statement.
Despite the new reforms, opposition leader Brendan Nelson recently stated that there was a sense of disappointment surrounding Mr Rudd's government.
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A plan by the government to increase the number of workers in occupational pension schemes could result in existing retirement provision facing cuts, it has emerged.
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The Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria is to lose just over a tenth of its workforce after it was announced that members of Unite would go on strike.
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