Issue Date:  -  Monday, 10 May 2004

Answers for small business owners - Canning Vale

The Department of Consumer and Employment Protection is conducting a series of seminars in Canning Vale for small business owners on a range of important employment issues.

The seminars will be held at the Perth Market Authority Conference Room, 280 Bannister Road, Canning Vale over the next two consecutive Tuesdays.

Labour Relations Director of Compliance and Education Brian Appleby said today that the seminars follow audits of time and wages records of employers in Canning Vale, which were conducted during February and March this year.

“The audits found that although the majority of employers were found to be paying the correct wage rates, more than half the employers bound by industrial awards and agreements were not recording start and finishing times for their employees, “ Mr Appleby said.

“Employers who are not bound by an award or registered agreement were not maintaining records in accordance with the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.  Most employers in this category were unaware of the recent changes to the Act, especially the requirement to record total hours worked per week for each employee earning less than $45,000 per annum.”

Mr Appleby said that employers could be prosecuted for not maintaining accurate time and wages records, so it was important that employers understood their record keeping obligations.

The audits also revealed a number of other issues. For example, many employers were unaware of the State Wage Case handed down on 5 June 2003, which increased wage rates of state awards. Labour Relations offers a free online subscription service through our website that helps employers stay up-to-date with award changes. To subscribe, visit our website at www.docep.wa.gov.au, click on ‘Labour Relations’, then ‘Online Newsletter’.  

Mr Appleby said “During the next six months, Industrial Inspectors from the department will carry out a compliance follow-up check in the Canning Vale area. These checks may include businesses that were not visited as part of the educational campaign.”

The seminars will cover topics that were shown to be of interest to employers who were visited during the audits in Malaga including time and wages records requirements, employment options and termination.

The seminars will bring small business owners up to date on three important issues:

Time and Wage Record Keeping Requirements - highlighting the issues raised during the audits - to be held on Tuesday, 25 May, or Tuesday 1 June, from 10.00am – 12.00pm.

Employment Options, including Awards, Enterprise Bargaining Agreements and Employer Employee Agreements will be explained in the second series of seminars to be held on Tuesday, 25 May, or Tuesday 1 June, from 1.00 – 3.00pm.

Termination of employment including ways to minimise the risk of an unfair dismissal claim by following a fair process, to be held on Tuesday, 25 May, or Tuesday 1 June, from 3.30 – 5.30pm.

Each seminar costs $20, or you can book all three seminars on one day for $50. Lunch will be provided for those attending more than one session on one day.

Interested people can book at BOCS on 9484 1133 or log on to www.bocsticketing.com.au