Home | Member Updates | AHEIA submission to Senate inquiry on wage theft provisions
AHEIA has lodged a submission to the Senate inquiry into the operation of the wage theft provisions in the Fair Work Act, including subsection 327A(1). The submission supports the existing criminal wage theft framework targeting deliberate and dishonest conduct, while highlighting the complexity of enterprise agreements and payroll systems within the higher education sector.
The submission also outlines the significant efforts universities have undertaken to improve wage compliance, including payroll remediation programs, systems investment, governance reforms, and ongoing engagement with the Fair Work Ombudsman. AHEIA further emphasises the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between intentional criminal conduct and compliance issues arising from ambiguity and interpretive complexity within industrial arrangements.
Key themes addressed in the submission include:
- Preserving the integrity of the current enforcement framework;
- Reducing complexity in enterprise agreements to improve compliance outcomes; and
- Supporting long-term reforms to simplify industrial agreements within the higher education sector.
Read the full submission here.