The Government and Australian Democrats recently reached an agreement on the passage of the Choice of Superannuation Fund Bill 2002, which will come into effect on 1 July 2005
Choice of superannuation agreement reached
The Government and Australian Democrats recently reached an agreement on the passage of the Choice of Superannuation Fund Bill 2002, which will come into effect on 1 July 2005. The agreement, which resolves an eight-year deadlock on superannuation choice, saw the Democrats win a number of concessions such as minimum life insurance cover for all workers from their first day of employment, the option for workers to choose funds through Certified Agreements, and maintaining the status of award funds if employees fail to make a choice. The government will also prohibit improper kickbacks from the financial services industry to employers and unions for signing up members or employees.
RCSA attacks OHS report: VIC
The Recruitment & Consulting Services Association (RCSA) recently attacked a report examining OHS issues in the labour hire industry, claiming it relies on a small, unrepresentative sample to draw major conclusions. The Underhill Report claims that on-hired workers are more likely to suffer workplace injuries than other workers. However the RCSA cited independent research, which found that the sample used by the report’s author comprised only employees who made workers compensation claims involving an absence from work of more than 10 days and where the employer in question was not self-insured for workers compensation purposes. The RCSA said this represents just 1.4 per cent of the Victorian workforce, therefore making the report’s findings statistically invalid.
Hewitt Associates to merge with Exult
Hewitt Associates and HR business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Exult recently announced an agreement to merge. Following the merger, Hewitt will be able to offer total HR BPO services, such as benefits, payroll, HR information systems, recruiting, learning and other HR services, on an integrated basis with HR consulting services. Dale Gifford, Hewitt chairman and CEO said the combination was “truly outstanding” and believed the merger would create better possibilities for clients. “The addition of Exult’s comprehensive service mix, Six Sigma expertise and delivery capabilities to Hewitt’s integrated HR outsourcing and consulting solutions and operating capabilities, will create a true leader with the most flexible and broad HR solution,” he said.
ARTDO international conference planned for Penang
The Asian Regional Training and Development Organisation (ARTDO) will be holding its 31st annual regional management and HRD conference in Penang, Malaysia from 23–26 September 2004. The conference theme, management and HRD: A focus on people, performance and progress, will be addressed by a panel of presenters from the US (SHRM and Center for Creative Leadership), Asia (including the Asian Development Bank, Chairman TaipeiBank, Civil Service Commission Thailand) and Mauritius, the Middle East, United Kingdom, India and Australasia. The ARTDO conference is supported by the Government of Penang, Malaysian Institute of Training and Development and ARTDO Asia-Pacific Human Resource Development Centre.
Mobil moves managers out of office, into homes
Mobil Oil Australia is moving many of its senior managers out of the company’s Melbourne head office and sending them to work from home in a bid to cut office overheads. Other head office staff have been moved out of the St Kilda Road building to the company’s refinery sites at Yarraville and Altona in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Mobil government relations manager, Alan Bailey, said the rationalisation of office space started with the merger of Mobil and Exxon and rationalising space to focus on Exxon’s headquarters at Southbank. He also said rising costs in the oil business had further prompted the move to make office space costs as low as practicable. Mobil Oil Australia was established in Melbourne in 1895, where its oil and petroleum operations are managed from.
Best employers in A&NZ announced in early July
Hewitt Associates in association with the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and AFR BOSS magazine will announce the findings from its 2004 Best Employers in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) study in Sydney on 8 July. One hundred and thirty-nine organisations participated in this year’s study, including nine of Australia’s top 20 companies. The organisations employ more than 250,000 employees, and more than 40,000 employee were surveyed in the course of the study. Consistent data from previous studies in Australia and similar studies worldwide has shown the strong link between organisational performance, as measured by revenue, profit and shareholder return as well as levels of employee engagement.
