Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston today announced the four organisations awarded $75,000 grants as part of the Getting Employment Right grants program.
The program was established to provide funding for employer and employee associations to educate Western Australian small businesses and workers about employment laws.
The successful employee organisations were UnionsWA and United Workers Union, and the two successful employer organisations were the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) WA and the National Retail Association.
UnionsWA and United Workers Union will use their grants to implement an education initiative about workers' employment rights in the State and national industrial relations systems, and where to seek assistance when resolving an underpayment or wage theft issue.
CCI WA and the National Retail Association will use their grants to develop and implement an education initiative to raise awareness among small business employers on their employment obligations and the penalties for non-compliance of employment laws.
The inquiry into wage theft in WA, completed in July 2019, found one of the reasons wage theft occurs is due to a lack of understanding of employment rights and obligations.
It found the most high-risk cases of wage theft occurred for workers in cleaning, retail, cafés and restaurants, and horticulture.
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston:
"Congratulations to the four proactive organisations who're helping to tackle wage theft.
"The Getting Employment Right grants program is part of the McGowan Government's suite of strategies to combat wage theft in this State.
"I encourage small business employers and workers to access these new education initiatives when they become available in the near future."
