COVID-19 in Victoria: Permits required for employees travelling to work sites

From 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 August, employers who require their staff to attend a work site must issue a worker permit to their employees – this is the employer’s responsibility. Penalties of up to $19,826 (for individuals) and $99,132 (for businesses) will apply to employers who issue worker permits to employees who do not meet the requirements of the worker permit scheme or who otherwise breach the scheme requirements.

There will also be on-the-spot fines of up to $1,652 (for individuals) and up to $9,913 (for businesses) for anyone who breaches the scheme requirements. This includes employers, and employees who do not carry their worker permit when travelling to and from work.

Employees must carry the worker permit and should carry photo identification when travelling to and from the workplace. A worker permit can be shown electronically to authorities such as a photo, or scanned copy, on a mobile device.

Further details, as well as templates for permits, can found at: www.justice.vic.gov.au/permitted-worker-scheme

The Permitted Worker Scheme is the latest announcement from the Victorian Government regarding restrictions on the activities of businesses in metropolitan Melbourne. The restrictions mandate that, as a default, many workplaces in metropolitan Melbourne must be closed. However, a number of exemptions have been established, with workplaces in certain categories allowed to remain open for on-site work with a COVID-Safe Plan. Details of the restrictions can be found here: www.amtil.com.au/stage-4-industries

AMTIL has received advice indicating that most of its members (both Manufacturing Technology Suppliers and Manufacturing Technology Users) should be able to remain open for on-site work with a COVID Safe Plan. Business that are a part of a national supply chain or need to distribute products to other states would fall under the general “All Sectors” category: Any ancillary business (including IT) involved in the production, supply, manufacture, repair, maintenance, cleaning, security, wholesale, distribution, transportation or sale of equipment, goods or services necessary for the operations of a permitted work site or for closed work sites where there are safety or environmental obligations.

AMTIL is advising its members that they should comply with the 33% reduction in staff capacity and have a documented COVID Safe Plan distributed to staff. Further detail on COVID-Safe Plans can be found here: www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-planning/covid-safe-business/creating-a-covid-safe-workplace

AMTIL strongly advises that if you are at all unsure about your business classification you should seek your own advice using the COVID Vic Hotline information, which can be accessed here: www.vic.gov.au/contact-us

Shane Infanti, Chief Executive Officer of AMTIL, said: “Overall, these are murky waters we are wading through and I expect more clarification on a regular basis. In the meantime we all need to do the right thing, apply common sense and have a good COVID -Safe plan in place.”