Business News

The Labor party wants to criminalise wage theft in Victoria and NSW. But some are warning it could be unconstitutional. According to MSN, two legal experts from the University of Melbourne suggest a new criminal offence would not deter employers from underpaying workers. In their research paper, Melissa Kennedy and …

Coca-Cola Amatil will no longer distribute plastic drinking straws and stirrers in Australia. Instead, the company says, it will stock fully recyclable and biodegradable FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accredited paper straws. Group Managing Director Alison Watkins says the decision is another step forward in the company’s efforts to reduce single-use …

Kate Carnell has welcomed Labor’s policy announcement to overhaul jobactive, which she says is letting small businesses down. In a recent statement, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman was scathing about the employment services system. “(It’s) not meeting the needs of small business operators in Australia,” she said. …

PGGM and Shell say they’ve “joined forces” to look at participating in the controlled auction for sustainable energy provider Eneco. Eneco and its shareholders’ committee announced the start of the privatisation process in December last year. ‘A platform for growth’ In a press release, the consortium praised Eneco’s achievements in …

Master Grocers Australia (MGA) has praised Minister Kelly O’Dwyer for taking “prompt action” in stopping double dipping for casual employees. In 2018, a federal court decided a casual worker employed on a regular basis could claim annual and sick leave. The employer had therefore breached the Fair Work Act, the …

Safeguarding against Christmas shoplifting is crucial, says Checkpoint Systems, if retailers are to protect their profit margins at this crucial time of year. The retail inventory management specialist – which describes itself as “Australia’s leading expert in the manufacture and supply of retail loss prevention and merchandise management solutions” – …

As Christmas approaches, Australian small business owners are compromising their personal wellbeing to deal with business pressures, claims Westpac. Such pressures include cash flow, compliance and regulation, according to Westpac’s new Small Business Report, in collaboration with Deloitte. Main findings 58 per cent of small business owners said they expect …

SPAR India says it has expanded its retail selling space by half again within just 24 months. Earlier this year, its store concept won the gold prize at the Asian Customer Engagement Forum. The company describes its new SPAR hypermarket at Sharath Capital City Mall, Hyderabad, as a “perfect example of …

As a society, we’re undergoing a payment revolution, says CEO of Live eftpos & Live Group Reuven Barukh. Here are five key trends retailers can leverage. 1. Digital wallets Digital wallets refer to services that enable you to make virtual payments via your smartphone. The convenience of making payments via …

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell has released a new factsheet on domestic violence for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The release coincided with White Ribbon Day last Friday. White Ribbon is a global movement of men and boys working to end men’s violence against women. On …