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...

 

Coles has launched its latest craft beer - this time, made with unsold Coles bread and excess white peaches.

It’s the second exclusive craft beer the retailer’s liquor arm has made using the simple supermarket ingredients, after the hugely successful Watermelon Sour.

Coles Liquor says the sustainability credentials of the new White Peach Surplus Sour “closes the loop” on fresh produce, by finding a productive use for unsold fruit and excess bread.

You can read the full article featuring peach fruit grower Gaethan Cutri from Cutri Fruit.

The Fair Work Commission decision to change the award with regards to pieceworkers will be implemented from 28/4/2022.  Below is some information from APAL and the National Farmers Federation.
 What changes were made to the piece work rate decision? | Apple & Pear Australia Ltd (APAL)

Hort Connections 2022 will be held in Brisbane following the successful, COVID-safe delivery of Hort Connections 2021.

The theme for Hort Connections 2022 – Growing Together – will highlight the importance for every sector of the horticulture industry to come together to build a stronger more resilient food system to feed local and international consumers.

Hort Connections speakers and exhibitors will showcase the latest research, technologies and innovations to offer new perspectives on how the industry can grow together.

Visit the Hort Connections website for further information.

*Early Bird registrations for Hort Connections 2022 end 21 March.

Testing and vaccinations:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website in multiple languages
• Information about the COVID-19 vaccines in multiple languages
• Instructions on how to use Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)
• Information for people who have recovered from COVID-19
• COVID-19 testing and the workplace

Business support and wellbeing:

• DJPR COVID Safe information session for small/medium business Tuesday, 22 March (2:00pm), Thursday, 24  March (10:00am)
• One on one support to improve financial, business and emotional wellbeing

COVID isolation and exemption:

• List of workers exempted from isolation requirements

What if I've recently contracted COVID-19 or was a contact

The Victorian Government is offering a free support service for small to medium businesses to ensure your COVIDSafe Plan is up to date and reflects current COVIDSafe Settings. The Information forum will provide updates on the latest COVIDSafe Plan information and mandatory requirements, as well as tips on how to implement the Plan in your business.

• Tuesday, 15 March (2:00pm)
• Thursday, 17 March (10:00am)

Sessions are scheduled for approx. 1 hour. A link to the session will be emailed on the day of the forum. Sessions are not recorded. Slides will be circulated after the forum. 

For more information or to register for this event, please click here..