Modern Awards released in SeptemberOn 12 June 2009, Ai Group filed its submissions to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in relation to the draft modern awards for the food and beverage industry. Ai Group also appeared at the consultations before the Full Bench of the Commission on 1 & 2 July 2009.
The awards for the agriculture and horticulture industries were released earlier this year.
Ai Group has devoted massive resources to the Award Modernisation process, to represent our members, ensure fairness, and to assist the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to achieve the objectives of the exercise. The process has stretched our resources and indeed, we cannot recall another exercise which has imposed such a heavy workload, however it has been vital work to ensure member interests have been represented.
The Food & Beverage Industry has been divided up into the following awards: - Food Beverage & Tobacco Manufacturing Award
- Poultry Processing Award
- Seafood Processing Award
- Wine Industry Award
- Meat industry Award
Ai Group’s major concerns were about the span of hours, casual employee arrangements, leave arrangements, allowances and classification levels.
We now wait for the Commission to release the final draft of the modern awards on 4 September 2009. We will let you know the outcome.
The modern awards become effective on 1 January 2010.
For information about the Food and Beverage Sector modern awards, please contact Craig Taylor, Senior Workplace Advisor, on (03) 9867 0242. Fair Work ActThe Federal Government's Fair Work Act became operative from 1 July 2009. The new legislation brings with it a new collective enterprise bargaining system which is significantly different from previous arrangements. Many Food & Beverage Sector companies have enterprise agreements that expired between 31 March 2009 and 30 June 2009 and very few of those agreements have been re-negotiated because unions have been waiting for the new laws to become operative. There is clear evidence that unions are going to pursue issues that were previously prohibited in workplace agreements under WorkChoices such as trade union training leave, delegate's rights, paid union meetings, OHS procedures as well as unrealistic wage increases. If you would like assistance in navigating the new system, please contact Craig Taylor, Senior Workplace Adviser, on (03) 9867 0242. Free Fair Work Act information sessions.
Have you booked for a free business consultation or workshop? Find out more.
Changes to AQIS Packing Declarations, Treatment Certificates and AQIS issued documentsAQIS have made changes to the format of the packing declarations and treatment certificates which will come into force as of August 2009 (1 January 2010 for Annual Packing Declarations). Further information can be found at http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/import/general-info/ian/09/23-2009 The main points are: - Packing declarations – The straw statement has been changed to include other types of prohibited packaging such as bamboo, hay etc. It is now known as the "prohibited packaging material statement".
- Newly manufactured plywood/veneer products declaration - The newly manufactured plywood/veneer products declaration is no longer acceptable for packaging and dunnage. Packaging and dunnage made from plywood/veneer must be declared as timber packaging and is subject to mandatory treatment.
- Methyl bromide fumigation certificates - plastic wrapping declaration - All treatment certificates issued for fumigations using methyl bromide must include a Plastic Wrap Declaration.
"This consignment has been fumigated prior to application of plastic wrapping or plastic wrapping used in the consignment conforms to the AQIS wrapping and perforation standard as found in the AQIS Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard." - Import permits - validity requirements - All import permits must meet an additional validity requirement in that the permit must be valid at the time the goods are landed.
For further information, please contact Billie Petrovski, Trade & Export Development Officer, on (03) 9867 0152.
Environment Programs - Food and Beverage SectorAi Group’s Environment Team is currently providing the following funded programs to Food & Beverage Sector members: - waterMAP Assist case studies
Ai Group’s waterMAP Assist program has assisted large industrial water users (those users of > 10 ML per year) to implement initiatives contained in waterMAPs and deliver water savings in industry. A range of projects were conducted in the food sector and the following case studies developed: - National Foods cooling tower minimisation study
- Salad Fresh wastewater recycling feasibility study
- Betta Foods cooling tower investigative study
- Goldfields Turkeys water saving investigative study
- Bush's Victoria water saving investigative study
- Resource Smart Business Industry Pilot - Food Sector
Ai Group in conjunction with Sustainability Victoria are conducting a pilot project in the food sector that aims to assist business take a wholistic approach to reducing the environmental impacts of products, processes and services across the supply chain.
The project will: - Understand the flow of resources through supply chains using life cycle thinking and tools
- Identify carbon reduction business improvement opportunities
- Provide on-site assistance for participating small and medium businesses to take action
- Contact Jason Walker, Manager National Environment Services on (03) 9867 0126 or jason.walker@aigroup.asn.au
- Environmental Solutions Forum - getting started with energy efficiency - FREE
Melbourne - 17 September, Brisbane 17 September, Sydney 24 September
Come and learn how to instantly reduce your energy use at our FREE Energy Efficiency Seminar. With rising energy prices and strong pressures to reduce operating costs, now is a critical time for businesses of all sizes to identify ways to reduce energy use. - Water Solutions Forum - food and beverage sector - FREE
Melbourne – 28 August
Many of Victoria’s food and beverage companies have implemented low cost initiatives that have achieved large water savings. Learn how these companies have saved money by reducing use of drinking water and wastewater disposal. - Looking for a Sustainability Advantage
The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) and Ai Group are recruiting businesses across NSW to two new programs that help to lower power bills and carbon pollution. Following are two programs which are designed to assist your business to become more energy efficient.
Ai Group is offering FREE site visits to make companies aware of the opportunities and benefits that will be derived from participating in the Sustainability Advantage program including discounted energy audits. Further information on the Sustainability Advantage program is available here.
- For further information or to arrange a site visit please contact Jason Walker, Manager National Environment Services on (03) 9867 0126 or jason.walker@aigroup.asn.au - Sustainability Covenant (VIC)
The Sustainability Covenant provides a framework for delivering funding support and assistance for sustainability projects which will assist Victorian industry to adopt innovative environmental practices and realise significant resource efficiency, waste reduction, ecological and economic outcomes. Under the Covenant, funding is available to member companies in Victoria for a range of projects, including (but not limited to): - Identification and implementation of opportunities to avoid the generation of waste with particular focus on prescribed industrial waste and industrial trade waste.
- Identification and implementation of opportunities which increase the efficiency of resource use i.e. energy, water, raw materials.
- Identification of opportunities to integrate lifecycle approaches into business strategy and product and process design.
- For further information on the Sustainability Covenant please contact Vicki Pryse, Sustainable Industry Consultant on (03) 9867 0270 or vicki.pryse@aigroup.asn.au.
To register for any of the above events, book online.
Free Services to Power Your Business - business reviews and subsidised R&D grants for supply chain improvements & access to leading edge technologyWith the prospects of an upturn in business conditions, there is no better time than now to shore up your business strategy and operations. Many businesses are currently pursuing these strategies to ensure they survive and grow in the upturn: • managing cash flow
• re-working the business plan
• maintaining a market profile
• re-assessing operations to strip out wasteful processes
• maximising external supplier and customer relationships
• communicating clearly to employees and customers
• ensuring systems cultivate innovation
• accessing independent external advisers. We can support your business with free and subsidised Enterprise Connect services, delivered by Ai Group business experts. Enterprise Connect is an Australian Government initiative designed to assist small and medium enterprises to be more competitive, productive, innovative and ultimately, sustainable. Ai Group works with the Australian Government to deliver the services of Enterprise Connect. We have 13 business advisers across four states. Read more on this program and find out how you can get involved. How can we assist your business? Through Enterprise Connect you can access a number of free and subsidised services to help strengthen your business. - Free business reviews, during which a business adviser reviews your strategy and business operations, identify strengths and opportunities, and recommends areas for growth and improvement.
To be eligible you must have a current ACN; typically turned over between $2 million ($1.5m in regional areas) and $100 million; are involved in manufacturing or a manufacturing related services firm; and have been trading for three years.
You are able to implement the findings of your review by accessing a matching grant of up to $20,000. Typical projects may involve business strategy planning, supply chain management, human resource developments, lean manufacturing, export strategy or quality management systems. - Placement of researchers in your business to help develop and implement a new idea with commercial potential. Up to 50% of the salary costs, to a maximum of $50,000 will be funded for researchers aligned with a university or research organisation, to develop a new idea to the firm. Turnover needs to be between $1m and $100m.
- Technology partnerships, which provide funding to firms with leading edge equipment who have spare capacity, to make the equipment available to other firms.
- Technology and Knowledge Connect, which provides firms a referral service linking firms to experts in relevant technological fields.
- Workshops, Industry Intelligence and Networking (WIIN) which provide firms with access to events and networking opportunities relevant to their industry.
- Access to six Innovation Centres which focus on industry development projects in clean energy, creative industries, mining technology, defence, remote regions and innovative regions. For the Innovation Centre relevant to your business, or to contact a local Ai Group business adviser, contact Anne Younger, Manager, Business Improvement and Association Services on 03 9867 0172 or email ayounger@aigroup.asn.au.
Other Upcoming EventsFair Work Act Information Sessions
Fair Work Act Workshops and Business Consultations are being run by Ai Group on behalf of the Australian Government. These free 3-hour seminars will fill you in on the facts about the Fair Work Act and its implications for your business and employees.
Attendance at these events, is sure to prove valuable for your business, so register your booking online now, or for further information call 1800 105 788. Water Solutions Forum
Many of Victoria’s food and beverage companies have implemented low cost initiatives that have achieved large water savings. Learn how these companies have saved money by reducing use of drinking water and wastewater disposal. Register now and enable your business to identify and implement cost effective initiatives to save drinking water and reduce operating costs.
|
Grow your Business
Copyright © 2008
The Australian Industry Group.