Greens push to plug huge wages underpayment loophole

• EXCLUSIVE

Hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers would get protection from being underpaid, under a push for reforms to plug loopholes that are being exploited by big companies such as McDonald's and KFC

New union to challenge 'shoppies' after massive wages scandal

• EXCLUSIVE

The cosy, decades-long relationship between Australia's largest employers and the Labor party's biggest industrial backer, today faces an audacious challenge from a new retail union committed to boosting penalty rates

The new underclass: ripped-off foreign workers

They are the new underclass. The workers who sell us food, clean our offices and build our homes and cities

Watchdog probes Chemist Warehouse pay

Solly Lew, a St Kilda pharmacist of 35 years standing, is in the fight of his commercial life. Chemist Warehouse, the brash upstart of Australian pharmacy, has moved in next door.

Fashion's victims: festival volunteers tell of mistreatment

• EXCLUSIVE

After working 13-hour shifts in stifling conditions, some of the volunteers at Melbourne's Fashion Festival in March were on the verge of collapse.

Shorten makes big mistake backing new Senator

• COMMENT

Kimberley Kitching is smart, charming and engaging. But Bill Shorten made a big mistake in backing her as a new Senator

Coles knew more than half its workers were underpaid

• EXCLUSIVE

Australia's third largest employer, supermarket giant Coles, knew that more than half its workers were paid below legal minimum wages

Historic win for low-paid farm workers at supermarket supplier

Unions have won an important breakthrough in the farm sector with Australia's biggest horticulture producer forced to the bargaining table

Dirty little secret of the penalty rates debate

• COMMENT

You would assume that those who work for the country's largest employers, under union agreements, would be paid proper, award rates. Not necessarily so. Not so.