The 2017-18 Queensland State Budget was released on Tuesday 14 June with a theme of Jobs for Queensland.

The Fair Work Commission is currently reviewing submissions before handing down the 2018 annual wage review decision. MPAQ would like to remind members that each year the Award wage rates increase.

Are you closing down for a period over the Christmas/New Year break? If so, here is a reminder on the process that you must take in informing your employees.

The Federal Court will next month convene a hearing for an ACCC prosecution of employment advice provider Employsure for allegedly misleading small business operators into believing it was the Fair Work Ombudsman or the Fair Work Commission or that they were connected to them.

Where an annual salary is paid, the employer must advise the employee in writing, ideally through an employment contract, of what the total annual salary will be and detail which of the provisions of the Award are contained within the Annual salary.

MPAQ, as part of Master Plumbers Australia, has been successful in a submission to the Fair Work Commission to delay an increase to the national minimum wage for adult apprentices. This increase is now in line with the increase to the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2010, which will take place from 1 November 2020.

Find out the steps you have to take when you finish your apprenticeship to be become a fully qualified tradesperson.

Find out at what point you are required to pay your apprentices and tradesperson wage.

If you pay your employees a salary as opposed to an hourly rate, there are provision you need to adhere to, to avoid a costly wage claim being made against you.

In Queensland we have three and a half (3 1/2) Public Holidays over the Christmas/New Year period.

MPAQ would like to remind members that Friday 26 January 2018 is a public holiday for Australia Day. Due to this public holiday there may be some changes to the pay rates of some employees on the day, so check out this guide to ensure that you are paying your staff correctly.

Archived - 2015/2016 Wages and Award Information for the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award, Clerks – Private Sector Award, General Retail Industry Award. Including Allowances and relevant award information.