The ag industry, led by the National Farmers Federation (NFF), has approached the Australian Workers Union (AWU) seeking support to temporarily make amendments to the Horticulture Award to allow growers more flexibility to manage the impact of COVID-19 on their workplace. 
 
The proposed changes include:
• Changes to casual employee's overtime arrangements, to facilitate social distancing and relieve some of problems associated with finding staff and engaging transient workers. 
• To remove the requirement to pay a shift penalties so growers can work smaller teams in staggered shifts.
• To enable growers to direct employees to take annual leave where there are downturns in work demands and to enable social isolation.
• To allow growers to direct workers to perform alternative duties to address fluctuating work needs and patterns of work.
 
The last two proposed changes would mimic recent changes to the Fair Work Act which currently only apply to employers that are eligible for the JobKeeper allowance.
 
The variations would be in effect for the duration of the pandemic. Over recent weeks the Commission has introduced other COVID-19 changes to Awards with effect through to the end of June 2020 with scope to renew as necessary. 

Source: APAL