Employment law updates – June 2023

Welcome to our monthly blog, where we provide you with some of the latest updates and insights from our in-house employment law specialist, Sanam Ahmadzadeh Salmani.

Australia

Reminders 

• Flexible work changes Effective from 6 June 2023, Australia implemented changes to flexible work arrangements to provide employees with greater flexibility in balancing work and personal commitments. See last month’s update for more information.
• Pay secrecy Effective from 7 June 2023, pay secrecy regulation changes have been implemented. Employers are now required to ensure transparency and openness in discussing pay-related matters. See last month’s update for more information.

Upcoming changes 

• Minimum wage and superannuation guarantee contribution increases Effective from 1 July 2023, the National Minimum Wage will be increased to $23.23 per hour and the superannuation guarantee contribution rate will be increased from 10.5% to 11%. Employers need to adjust their payroll systems to reflect this change accurately. To stay updated on further legislative changes, check out our employment law updates.

Learn how to apply the superannuation guarantee changes in Employment Hero payroll. 

• Changes to paid parental leave Additionally, from 1 July 2023 changes to parental leave entitlements will allow partnered couples to combine their entitlements, resulting in up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave. Single parents will also have access to the full 20 weeks. Read more. For a comprehensive overview of Australian employment law updates in 2023, download our factsheet.

New Zealand

• Extended time for personal grievance for sexual harassment Effective from 13 June 2023, the Employment Relations (Extended Time for Personal Grievance for Sexual Harassment) Amendment Bill has received Royal Assent. This means the timeframe for raising a personal grievance claim for sexual harassment has increased from 90 days to 12 months. Employers should review their employment agreements to ensure any new agreements reference this change. Read more. For more details on the Closing Loopholes Bill and its implications, you can join our informative webinar.
• Fair Pay agreements update There are three applications pending approval for Fair Pay Agreements, including those related to the hospitality sector, transport drivers and cleaners, and security officers and guards. See April’s update for more information.

Malaysia

• Minimum wage requirements Effective from 1 July 2023, a minimum wage increase will be implemented for all employers in Malaysia, with a fixed rate of 1,500 ringgit ($341) per month, regardless of the number of employees or location. Read more.

Additionally, follow our August 2023 product update to see the latest features we’ve released and how they can assist with these updates.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights from our in-house employment law specialist next month.

For more updates to employment law, including Part 2 of the Closing Loopholes Bill, join our next webinar.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is current as at 20 June 2023, and has been prepared by Employment Hero Pty Ltd (ABN 11 160 047 709) and its related bodies corporate (Employment Hero). The views expressed in this article are general information only, are provided in good faith to assist employers and their employees, and should not be relied on as professional advice. The Information is based on data supplied by third parties. While such data is believed to be accurate, it has not been independently verified and no warranties are given that it is complete, accurate, up to date or fit for the purpose for which it is required. Employment Hero does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy in such data and is not liable for any loss or damages arising directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on, use of or inability to use any information provided in this article. You should undertake your own research and seek professional advice before making any decisions or relying on the information in this article.