Franchise Privacy

FRANCHISORS – CAN YOU ACCESS YOUR FRANCHISEE’S EMPLOYMENT RECORDS TO CONDUCT FAIR WORK COMPLIANCE AUDITS? With the recent amendments to...

FRANCHISORS – CAN YOU ACCESS YOUR FRANCHISEE’S EMPLOYMENT RECORDS TO CONDUCT FAIR WORK COMPLIANCE AUDITS? With the recent amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) to protect vulnerable workers, many franchisors are considering what they can do to protect themselves from liability for contraventions to the Fair Work Act...

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Employment law legislation update

Written by Alex Millman Members will recall from previous news alerts that there are several pieces of legislation amending the...

Written by Alex Millman Members will recall from previous news alerts that there are several pieces of legislation amending the Fair Work Act currently waiting for the attention of the Senate before they can become law. Foremost among these is the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017, which aims...

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EOFY Franchisor Obligations

By Angela Szczepanski and Sid Sidhu With the new financial year in full swing, franchisors are reminded not to forget...

By Angela Szczepanski and Sid Sidhu With the new financial year in full swing, franchisors are reminded not to forget their end of year obligations under the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes – Franchising) Regulation 2014 (‘Franchising Code’). This article focuses particularly on the obligation to update your disclosure document...

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Coffee Club franchise fined for “grotesque exploitation” of visa worker

by Sid Sidhu and Troy Wild Fair Work Ombudsman v Gaura Nitai Pty Ltd & Anor FCCA 1242 Another franchisee...

by Sid Sidhu and Troy Wild Fair Work Ombudsman v Gaura Nitai Pty Ltd & Anor FCCA 1242 Another franchisee has been exposed by the Fair Work Ombudsman (the Ombudsman) for exploiting a migrant visa worker who was “desperate” to secure sponsorship. The Coffee Club cafe based in Brisbane has...

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Senate Report: Vulnerable Workers’ Bill

Summary by Troy Wild, Director NRA Legal On 9 May, the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee (‘the Committee’) released...

Summary by Troy Wild, Director NRA Legal On 9 May, the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee (‘the Committee’) released its report into the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017 (‘the Bill’). Read the full report here >> The Committee recommended that the Senate pass the Bill, subject to three...

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Webinar: Are your franchise systems working for you?

The franchising sector has been the focus of a number of recent high-profile investigations around payroll and underpayment issues. In...

The franchising sector has been the focus of a number of recent high-profile investigations around payroll and underpayment issues. In response to this, the Federal Government introduced its Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers Bill) into the House of Representatives in March to crack down on future breaches. With these legislative...

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Vulnerable Workers’ Bill

MEDIA RELEASE March 1, 2017 Retailers fearful legislation introduced today could spell the end for struggling SMEs The National Retail Association (NRA)...

MEDIA RELEASE March 1, 2017 Retailers fearful legislation introduced today could spell the end for struggling SMEs The National Retail Association (NRA) has today expressed serious concerns about new provisions in the Vulnerable Workers Bill being introduced to Parliament today, making franchisors responsible for underpayment of labour within their franchisee network, and...

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