After a two-year hiatus, this is finally a chance to reconnect in-person, share insights, and reshape the future of our industry, together.

Hosted May 29 – 30, the Forum will return to an in-person format, hosted here in Melbourne. The 2022 theme is 'Grow Beyond'.

• Sunday 29 May 2022- Welcome drinks and BBQ - 5.00pm – 8.30pm, Beer DeLuxe, Hop Bar, Federation Square, Melbourne CBD.
• Monday 30 May 2022- APAL Industry Forum - 9.00am – 5.00pm, Zinc at Federation Square, Cnr Princes Walk &, Russell St Ext, Melbourne CBD

Click here for further information and how to register for this event

New minimum wage guarantee for pieceworkers- coming into effect from Thursday 28th April

Minimum wage guarantee
From 28 April 2022, workers paid a piece rate will be guaranteed a minimum wage for each day that they work. This is called a ‘minimum wage guarantee’. Affected pieceworkers have to be paid a minimum amount for the hours that they work each day, effective the first pay period on or after 28 April 2022. This change applies to full-time, part-time and casual employees. See Minimum wage guarantee for pieceworkers.

New record-keeping obligations
Employers have new record-keeping obligations for pieceworkers, including that they record the hours worked by a pieceworker and the piece rates applied. See Record-keeping.

Employers can use our free checklist to help prepare for the new rules for piece rates. Go to New tools and resources.

Visit the FWO website for more information.

Current restrictions in Victoria

The Victorian Government has announced that most COVID-19 restrictions will be removed from 11:59pm, Friday 22 April 2022. Changes will include:

• Vaccination and check in
• Face masks
• Quarantine and isolation
• Workplace contacts

Download the Statewide settings from 11.59pm Friday 22 April 2022 here...

For the latest information regards COVID-19, please follow this link. Agriculture and resources sector guidance | Coronavirus Victoria

Harvest can be a busy time of year. It's important that seasonal workers understand their rights and responsibilities while at work. Its the employers responsibility to ensure seasonal workers know and understand how to stay safe while working in Victoria. WorkSafe has worked with representatives from the Pacific Island community to develop in-language health and safety resources for seasonal workers.

• Bislama
• Fijian
• Samoan
• Tongan
• English.  

You can access the resources here..

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) provides tailored information and assistance about workplace rights and obligations to employees and employers in the Horticulture sector across Australia. This webinar will cover the following topics:

• Recent changes to pieceworker arrangements
• Navigating the FWO’s Horticulture Showcase
• Understanding the Horticulture Award
• Using the Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate pay rates
•  Accessing the FWO's FREE tools and resources.

What you need to know about recent changes to occupational health and safety legislation
Labour hire workers have been granted additional rights and protections under recent changes to the Occupational Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (OHS Act). These changes came into effect on Tuesday, 22 March 2022.
The OHS Act states that a host employer is taken to be an 'employer' of a labour hire worker if a provider of labour hire services supplies the worker to, recruits the worker for, or places the worker with the person to perform work for the person. Visit the Worksafe website for more information...

Victorian Government launches sick pay guarantee for casual workers
After significant consultation with workers, industry and community, the Victorian Government has launched an initiative to pilot sick pay for casual and contract workers in certain occupations in Victoria over the next two years. Visit the Worksafe website to read more...