Article SMH Feb 11th 2010
Thursday, 11 February 2010 00:00
Calls clog awards help line
February 11, 2010
THOUSANDS of people calling the Fair Work Ombudsman's hotline seeking information on new awards have hung up in frustration or been blocked because the office was swamped with queries.
The Ombudsman, Nicholas Wilson, said the office had answered 6500 calls a day and dealt with 40,000 small business employers in January.
Mr Wilson said inspectors visiting small businesses to educate them about the new workplace laws, which came into effect on January 1, could not provide advice about all changes to pay rates because many awards had only recently been finalised.
The Minister for Employment Participation, Mark Arbib, told a Senate estimates hearing that the new system had cut red tape for employers by reducing the number of awards.
Workers who have lost weekly pay under a new award can apply to Fair Work Australia for a take-home pay order. Only one such application had been lodged, officials told the hearing.
Kirsty Needham
