A range of new provisions were introduced in June 2022 in the state industrial relations system to increase employee protections and assist in combatting wage theft.

The changes include new provisions which prohibit:

• employers compelling an employee to accept goods, accommodation or other services of any kind instead of money as part of the employee’s pay (‘payment in kind’)
• employers unreasonably requiring employees to spend their money in a particular way, or pay back their wages to the employer or another person (sometimes known as ‘cash backs’).

Asking an employee for any amount to be spent, or money to be paid, in a particular way that involves undue influence, duress or coercion, is also prohibited under the new provisions.

The new provisions were among a number of employment protections which were introduced with the commencement of the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2021 on 20 June 2022.

There is more information available on the Prohibition on accepting goods, accommodation or services as payment page.