On November 20th, 2023, a representative from EU-ERA and two delegations from Malaysia, supported by the Ministry of Trade and Investment (MITI), were given the opportunity to conduct a benchmarking study in Australia. The purpose of the study was to explore wage transformation to enhance productivity and promote a sustainable workforce.
We were delighted to have High Commission of Malaysia in Canberra to brief us on the current condition and culture of the people in Australia and the potential future engagements that we could undertake with the Australian government.
The Fact Finding and Benchmarking Mission to Australia to explore the wage transformation for enhance productivity and sustainable workforce lead by the Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) was welcomed by the Department of Employment and Workforce Relation (DEWR) in Australia. The discussion was full of insights into the strategies and policies implemented by the Australian government to support the workforce, enhance working conditions, and ensure equitable returns for industries.
We were also given a chance to communicate with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) on the different wage structure implemented in Australia, on of it is known as the Modern Award. A modern award is a document which sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment on top of the National Employment Standards (NES) by occupation and sector. Furthermore, we gained insights into methods for augmenting the bargaining power of workers within the labor market that would help Malaysia structure a better wage policy.