Labor’s jobs summit to focus on pay deals and productivity in bid to lift wages

Expert says collective bargaining is a minefield' for employers and simplifying it should be a focus of the forum

• Australia federal election 2022 LIVE - latest news, updates and results
• Election 2022 results: live votes tracker and federal seat counts
• Get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

More immigration, improved skills policy and simplifying collective bargaining have emerged as three top demands from employers for the new Labor government's jobs summit.

Experts suggest the forum could also pave the way for reforms including wage theft legislation, which was dropped from the Coalition's industrial relations bill, and action on union demands about insecure work.

The better off overall test so hypothetical patterns of work don't prevent pay deals being approved;

The requirements for the FWC to be satisfied that genuine agreement has been reached;

The requirement for employers to explain the terms of a proposed pay deal to employees prior to the vote.