60,000 Australians sign up for Victoria sick pay guarantee program News
453169 / Pixabay
60,000 Australians sign up for Victoria sick pay guarantee program

The Australian state of Victoria Monday revealed that over 60,000 individuals signed up for its pilot Sick Pay Guarantee scheme since its launch on March 14, 2022. To date, the state has paid out over one million hours of sick and carer’s pay.

The scheme is a two year test program that “provides eligible casual and contract workers with a guarantee they will receive sick pay when they can’t go to work,” because they or a family member are sick. According to a survey by the Victoria government, 41 percent of workers said they would have gone to work while sick if they did not have access to the program.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Colin Brooks commented:

We’ve already supported workers when they need it most – with more than one million hours of sick and carers’ pay. This scheme is protecting more and more Victorians and giving them the support they need when they’re sick or caring for a loved one.

The scheme allows for eligible individuals to take 38 hours a year of sick and carer’s pay at the national minimum wage. To be eligible, workers of at least 15 years of age must work 7.6 hours a week on average and lack access to existing sick leave programs. Covered jobs include hospitality, security and aged and disability care. These jobs, and other casual and contract workers, are not entitled to paid sick leave under the Fair Work Act.

Currently, Victoria is the only state with this scheme.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.