Plumber Michael Callahan of Yanchep, trading as Do It All Plumbing and Gas, has been fined $ 500 and ordered to pay $ 3135 cots for performing plumbing work outside of his licence. Read the whole story here.

The State Government recently announced the introduction of permanent sprinkler bans during winter as a further measure to reduce the amount of water we use.The bans, which were successfully trialled in 2009, will be in force from 1 June to 31 August each year. They will apply to scheme and bore water users in Perth, Mandurah and certain parts of the South West. Click here to view the media release by the Minister for Water.

World Plumbing Day 11 March !!

The World Plumbing Council (WPC) has agreed to launch World Plumbing Day as a means of celebrating an promoting the importance of today's plumbing industry. The Day will take place on 11 March each year commencing in 2010 and plumbing organisations across the world are being encouraged to do something on that day which will help the public to have a better awareness of the significant role which plumbing plays.

WPC Chairman, Robert D Burgon (Scotland) comments: "In many developed countries there is an established plumbing industry which is too often taken for granted. Most people simply do not know that plumbing plays a major role in health protection and also in relation to the environment. In many developing countries there is a lack of access to safe water supply and sanitation which is costing many lives each year. We want World Plumbing Day to highlight all of these issues. WPC will be issuing press releases and will have a dedicated website for the Day. I would love to think that news media all over the world focus on plumbing on or around 11 March next year and every year thereafter".

Then this information applies to your business. Making deductions from employees wages. State employment legislation prohibits an employer from making any type of deduction from wages, without prior written authorisation from the employee. The State Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 outlines the circumstances where an authorised deduction may occur:
· when an amount is authorised in writing by the employee to deduct and pay on behalf of the employee;· when an amount is authorised to be deducted and paid on behalf of the employee under an award or contract of employment; or
· when the employer is authorised or required to deduct by order of a court.
If a deduction from wages is made by an employer and it is determined to be unauthorised, a claim for under payment of wages can be made against the employer.Wageline often gets calls from employees working in retail and hospitality where they have been supplied with a uniform and without notice the cost of the uniform has been deducted from pay. Another common example is where the cash register does not balance and the shortfall is taken from the employee's wages. The worst example occurs in petrol stations where drivers fill up with fuel and drive away and the attendant is required to pay for the fuel. All of these circumstances would constitute an unauthorised deduction from pay unless the employee had given prior written authorisation. In some cases employees can work for many hours and receive no payment because of the magnitude of the deductions. Employers should consider the implications of their policies and practices in relation to authorised and unauthorise.