THE Fair Work Commission (FWC) has extended provisions in Schedule X of the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 until 31 Dec, to authorise unpaid pandemic leave for staff who are forced to isolate as a result of potential exposure to COVID-19.
The measure, which was approved by the Full Bench of the FWC, will also provide a facility for employees to take twice their allocation of annual leave at half-pay should they need to quarantine.
Newly elected Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, told Pharmacy Daily that the organisation "recognises the need for such measures during these challenging times and did not oppose the application to extend provisions".
The extension of the Schedule X provisions has also been backed by employee pharmacists' union, Professional Pharmacists Australia.
"We welcome the FWC's decision, which will provide pharmacy employees [with] additional leave benefits and peace of mind at a time when there is still uncertainty around the pandemic," a spokesperson said.
While the FWC announced the extension of the unpaid pandemic leave provisions under Schedule X of the award, it confirmed that the operation of the Schedule Y provisions, facilitating paid pandemic leave in the Aged Care Award, the Health Professionals and Support Services Award and the Nurses Award would cease from 29 Mar.
"The emergency circumstance which caused us to award the paid pandemic leave entitlement for aged care employees do not appear to have pertained for some time now," the FWC said.
"It is therefore our provisional view that Schedule Y should not be further extended."
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