Legal Requirements - 19

Workers in full-time, permanent employment often receive other benefits. These are in addition to their hourly wage, and are referred to as on costs. For example, you may be entitled to holiday pay, and a leave loading; you may be entitled to sick leave; many workers are entitled to long service leave. After ten years of continuous employment, some workers (such as teachers) are entitled to three months long service leave at full pay (in addition to their annual holidays).

Employers also have to pay for compulsary Workcover insurance, that will provide an income for workers who receive injuries at work. Employers also are responsible for occupational health and safety requirements, that ensure workers work in a clean, safe and non-hazardous environment. This requires Employers in some States in Australia have to pay payroll tax - a State Government tax.

Employers must select and promote staff on a non-discriminatory basis, under Australian equal opportunity law. Staff can not be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, age, marital status, race or ethnic background and other criteria. If employers fail to ensure this, they can be sued!

Employers must pay 9% of a worker's wage or salary into compulsary superannuation. Some employers like to argue that this another on cost, and should be removed. However, the reality is the 9% actually part of the worker's income, and would have to be paid anyway in cash, if superannuation was removed from worker's wages and conditions.