Coles moves to reassure cash customers ahead of Easter

Thinking this indeed might leave some shoppers up the Goulburn River without an EFTPOS, The News contacted Coles to check the veracity of the claim.

Its response was swift.

"The COTA release was incorrect, and we understand they are about to issue a retraction," a Coles spokesperson replied.

"We are not transitioning to cashless transactions. Due to industry-wide challenges with cash movements, we are taking some temporary steps to prepare for disruption to Armaguard services.

"Cash transactions continue to be available in all Coles supermarkets and Coles Liquor stores."

Cash delivery company Armaguard has been under financial pressure thanks to the continued decline in the use of cash in the economy and that has contributed to concerns about the availability of cash into the future.

Closing the Loopholes workshop

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it will hold a workshop in Shepparton to help businesses understand the Federal Government's latest workplace and industrial relations laws.

The chamber said it was holding 12 free workshops around the state to "provide key insights into the implications of the ‘Closing the Loopholes’ amendments".

“The Fair Work legislation is complex, and the rate of change over the last year has been significant," Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said.

"These amendments bring changes for all levels of business, and with increased penalties for non-compliance, it is vital all employers are across their obligations.”

The chamber will hold a workshop at the Shepparton Club on Monday, April 22 at 10.30am.

A webinar will be held at a later date for people unable to attend the workshop.

Minimum wage review

The ACTU wants the Fair Work Commission to give workers on the minimum wage a 5 per cent pay increase.

The claim was part of the peak union body's submission to the annual wage review.

​Each year, the Fair Work Commission hears from unions, employers and governments before setting minimum and award wages for about 2.9 million, or one in four, workers.

The review takes place from March to June and any change would come into effect on July 1.

​The ACTU claimed workers on awards were about $4700 worse off after inflation had eaten away at their pay rises over the past three years, despite recent positive increases in award wages. ​

It said a 5 per cent wage increase would lift the minimum hourly rate to $24.39 and the minimum annual full-time rate by $2295 to $48,200.

Building industry desperate for workers

The building and construction industry needs more workers and it wants migrants already in the country to help fill the gaps.

Master Builders Australia said the domestic workforce alone couldn't meet the goal of building 1.2 million homes around the country over the next five years, so it wants to "help migrants navigate complex and unnecessary barriers to work in the industry".

“When seeking to attract more skilled trades into Australia, it is important to look to migrants who are already in the country," Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn said.

“There are a number of skilled migrants already in Australia who are working in roles below or unrelated to their qualifications or work experience in their home country.

“For many, it is simply too hard to have their professional capacity recognised to work in a trade in Australia, and they are instead in roles that present fewer hurdles to obtain."

It's a problem that's also been felt by migrants with skills in other sectors such as the medical profession.

The MBA said one review found that skills assessments or qualifications recognition could cost almost $10,000 and take up to 18 months to complete.