The Federal Government has passed legislation through Parliament which it says will deliver the strongest protections for worker’ entitlements in the country’s history.

 

Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten, said the Fair Entitlements Guarantee Act 2012 would provide certainty for Australian workers who lose their job with entitlements owing when their employer enters liquidation or bankruptcy.

 

“Employees are often given little to no warning when a company goes under. It’s vital we ensure they are not disadvantaged through situations they have no control over,” Mr Shorten said.

 

“The Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme will replace the existing General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS).”

 

Workers who lose their job have enough to worry about. They don’t need the extra worry of how they will put food on the table or where the next mortgage repayment is coming from.”

 

The Act delivers two key improvements for workers:

  • provides certainty to workers that they will receive their redundancy payment and other entitlements if their employer enters liquidation or bankruptcy; and
  • delivers a fundamental additional protection through enshrining protections under law.