The State Government has today given the green light for all Victorian businesses to welcome back customers and staff from 6pm on Friday, 29 October as we prepare to hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated target. Importantly, once we hit the 90 per cent vaccinated target there will be only minimal restrictions in place, meaning it will be a spectacular summer.

The Victorian Chamber is today launching Safe In Our Hands, a campaign designed to reinforce that the business community is ready to welcome back customers and clients in a COVIDSafe manner.

We have been through a lot, but we’re ready to do what we love again. Victorians are safe in our hands.

Sunday was a good day for most when we heard the State Government’s roadmap had been bought forward. I cannot wait to see the smiles on the faces of business owners, staff and customers when we start to emerge from lockdown in Metropolitan Melbourne this week.

Victorians have been rewarded with further easing of restrictions after hitting the state’s 70 per cent double vaccination target ahead of schedule. As businesses reopen, they will need to be prepared to manage any conflict that may arise due to overseeing and enforcing COVIDSafe requirements. Learn how we can assist via our new training course.

Victorians today have been rewarded with further easing of restrictions from 11.59pm on Thursday as the state reaches the 70 per cent double vaccinated rate, with further easing expected shortly after as we power towards the 80 per cent double vaccinated target.

A long-standing employee who was dismissed after using a mobile phone while operating a forklift will be reinstated after the Fair Work Commission found his dismissal to be ‘harsh and therefore unfair.’

The Victorian Chamber, in partnership with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has produced an employer guide to Victorian Public Health Orders Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace in response to strong demand from members.

The Occupational Health and Safety and other Legislation Amendment Act of 2021 became law as of Wednesday 22 September. Here’s what you need to know.

October is finally here, and we are three weeks or less from hitting the 70 per cent target to start the reopening. It’s within sight now, and we can finally start to think about waving goodbye to lockdowns forever. The Victorian Chamber is continuing our push for the State Government to revise openings at both the 70 and 80 per cent targets.

Businesses and workers have sacrificed, suffered and done their bit to protect us all from COVID-19. They stayed closed, in some cases without work, pivoted their services to keep Victorians employed and many lost what they had spent years building. Businesses across the State are in crisis.

Casual employment can provide much needed flexibility for businesses, enabling them to quickly expand their workforce to meet demand. However, any business relying on casual labour shouldn’t look at it as a quick fix. Getting it right takes planning, paperwork and proactive management.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the Premier’s announcement today that all workers in Victoria on the Authorised Workers List will be required to have their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Friday 15 October 2021 to continue working on site, with their second dose due by 26 November.

Victorian businesses have today received the clarity and certainty they have been waiting for, with the State Government’s announcement that COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for all Victorian authorised workers.

The Fair Work Commission has determined an employer who cut a rail worker’s pay by almost $14,000 constituted a dismissal, giving the employee the green light to pursue an unfair dismissal claim.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the announcement of a fifth allotment of joint Federal and State Government funding to see business and workers through until vaccination rates hit the targets we need to open up under the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan.