Overtime penalties for casual employees engaged under the Horticulture Award commences from the first full pay period on or after Monday 15 April 2019, following a decision by the Fair Work Commission (FWC), which was handed down on Tuesday 2 April 2019. 

These changes have been confirmed, and include:

• A 15% loading (in addition to the initial casual loading of 25%) for ordinary hours work performed on any day of the week between 8.31pm and 4.59am;
• In circumstances where an employee works more than 12 hours per engagement or per day an overtime penalty rate of 150% (plus 25% casual loading); and
• In circumstances where an employee works more than 304 ‘ordinary hours’ over an 8 week period (an average of 38 hours per week), an overtime penalty rate of 150% (plus 25% casual loading).

These changes must be implemented by 15 April 2019.  All growers must ensure they are compliant with the changes to the Horticulture Award or risk non-compliance.

A copy of the Fair Work Commission's decision can be found here. 

The EMDG Scheme provides a taxable grant in the form of partial reimbursement of certain expediture incrred in the promotion of Australian products/services by  Australian businesses in overseas markets (excluding New Zealand, Iran and North Korea).

Under the scheme, businesses must have a turnover of less than $50 million and spend at least $15000.00 on export promotional activities under the categories listed below.  First time applicants, having satisfied grants entry requirements, may combine two financial years' worth of expenses to make up the $15000.00.  The grant is payable at the rate of 50% of the eligible expenditure over the first $5000.00.  

For more information on the grant and how to apply, please download the PDF attachments below.

After tests were carried out over a few years, Emilia Romagna fruit growers have began implementing the mechanical thinning of flowers. The operation must be performed at the right moment so as to obtain a good final result and save money on traditional thinning costs. 

"We started thinning peach and nectarine flowers a few days ago, as results have always been positive. Of course we only intervene on the varieties with a larger number of blossoms and perform touch ups by hand," explains Giuliano Donati, technician at GranFrutta Zani in Bagnacavallo (Ravenna).  Read more of this Fresh Plaza article. 

With transition beginning on 29 April 2019, we are reaching out to labour hire providers and hosts across Victoria with a series of roadshows in March and April.

The roadshows will drill down on the role of the Labour Hire Authority, the legislation we work to, our compliance tools, licence applications and objections and key dates for the transition period.

Melbourne Information sessions:

Fruit & Vegetable Harvesting and Processing Industry 13 March (Wednesday) 1:30 - 3:00 (Wednesday) Melbourne CBD - Book here

Regional information sessions:

• 27 March (Wednesday) 5:30 - 7:00 Tatura - Book here
• 28 March (Thursday) 9:30 - 11:00 Shepparton - Book here
• 27 March (Wednesday) 12:30 - 2:00 Echuca - Book here

More dates and venues available on the website.....

From 29 April labour hire providers will have six months to apply for a licence to operate in Victoria.

If you are a "Host" ie.  business, farm or organisation that uses the service of labour hire companies to supply labour, you must use only a licensed labour hire provider. 

What are your obligations as a labour hire host?
The main obligation on hosts is to use only licensed labour hire providers to obtain the services of labour hire workers.  
Once the scheme commences, before engaging a labour hire provider, hosts will be able to find out whether the provider they plan to use is licensed by checking the online Register of Licensed Labour Hire Providers.
Hosts will also be able to find out whether their planned provider has applied to be licensed, by checking the separate online list of ‘Applications received’.  Hosts will fall into the category of ‘interested persons’ who can make an objection to a licence being issued to an applicant.
Hosts can be assured that licensed providers have been assessed in relation to their compliance with a range of relevant State and Commonwealth laws and whether they are a fit and proper person to hold a labour hire licence.

Hosts will be prohibited from using an unlicensed labour hire provider, and hosts doing so will be exposed to significant fines, with a maximum penalty exceeding $500,000.  There are also significant penalties for clients including hosts who seek to enter arrangements with suppliers aimed at avoiding or circumventing obligations that would otherwise be imposed by the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 on the client, supplier or someone else.  Avoidance arrangements must be reported to the Labour Hire Authority.
The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) will deliver over 20 information sessions across Victoria to help the sector prepare for the new labour hire licensing scheme.
Delivered in March and April, the information sessions will spell out labour hire provider obligations for Victorian operators and outline how to get ready for 29 April 2019. Labour hire providers will have six months from this date to apply for a licence.
To be granted a licence, providers will be required to pass a ‘fit and proper person test’, show compliance with workplace and labour hire laws, meet minimum accommodation standards, as well as report annually on their activities.
 There are also information sessions for labour hire hosts, as they are an important part of the process and liable for penalties if non-compliant with the scheme.

Find out more information on the Labour Hire Authority website.

Big fines for firms who exploit fruit pickers

Dodgy labour hire providers will be ousted from Victoria as the state's first ever licensing scheme kicks off in April.

Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas on Thursday said the new scheme will take effect from April 29 and require labour hire service providers to be licensed, in a bid to protect workers from exploitation and crack down on rogue operators.

"It will weed out those who've seen exploitation of workers as a opportunity to cut their costs. This will level the playing field up for those more responsible operators," Mr Pallas said. Read more of this Age article.