The court narrowly ruled that employees who sign arbitration agreements can’t bring class action suits over unpaid wages.
The RBA argues that it needs to balance financial stability risks against the need to stimulate the economy through lower interest rates. But this has left inflation running below its target range.
DARREN ENGLAND/AAP
If the RBA continues to sacrifice its inflation target on the altar of financial stability risks, inflation expectations and our wages growth will continue to languish.
Smaller Australian businesses are more productive than larger ones, but have disproportionately low levels of exports and wages.
The key reason for the squeeze on household spending and saving is of course the ongoing weakness in the growth rate of household disposable income.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The government says personal income tax cuts are needed to provide relief from low wages and high cost of living, but will tax cuts make up for that?
One of the paradoxes of wage policy is that ultimately governments are held responsible and blamed for poor results, but governments are but one player in a complex system of wage adjustment.
Lukas Coch/AAP
On Q&A, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive James Pearson said almost 60% of small business owners in Australia are paid $50,000 or less. Is that right?
As ACTU secretary, Sally McManus has proven effective at elevating the debate over workplace reform.
AAP/Alex Murray
Although over 200 CEOs have promised to share windfalls from the recent tax cut with their employers – something the president is likely to bring up in the State of the Union – research suggests workers aren’t holding their breath.
Slightly more optimistic economic figures gives Scott Morrison and the Turnbull government a boost heading into 2018, as the charts explain.
Lukas Coch/AAP and The Conversation
Seven charts on the highlights from the government’s mid year update of the budget.
Retail Food Group (RFG) Managing Director Andre Nell (right) and Chairman Colin Archer. The company has been the focus of the latest investigation into franchise problems.
Dan Peled/AAP
There are some hallmark problems within franchising in Australia and internationally and not all are within the franchisor’s or franchisees’ control to fix.
Politicians like Malcolm Turnbull try to target middle class Australians.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The federal government could restore its commitment to creating full employment in Australia, using its spending power to make up for any shortfall in private jobs as it did during the post-war boom.
Treasurer Scott Morrison is eager to point out jobs growth, but wages growth remains stubbornly slow.
Daniel Munoz/AAP
Putting money into the hands of local communities will be a more useful antidote to the whims of world capitalism.
Shoppers browse at a Sears Canada store in Toronto in October after the company began liquidation sales. Its retirement funds are short $308 million, forcing a 19 per cent cut to employee pensions.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)