It was horrendous earlier today but a Tstorm finally broke....
View attachment 52734
Was writing this for another forum and figured in might be of interest and one reason Australia is such an immigration magnet. It cost me about $11,000 just to apply and took 3 years ( usually 2 ) with no guarantee I would be accepted tho with a partner there and a long history they were confident I would be. It's way easier for people under 35 and there is a huge exchange of student workers between Aus and Canada.
In Australia we have a policy that requires any business of any size that employs people to deduct from their pay 5-8% of their wages toward a super-annuation fund that travels with the person for their working career.
In addition the employer must add I think 9% on top of the employee contribution.
That's policy that blunts the ability of corporation or other predatory organizations to exploit workers.
Tied up with a high minimum wage. $20.33 per hour it allows even the more menial job workers to earn a living wage and put aside aside a good chunk for retirement as my partner did.
Superannuation follows a worker through out their working career and even after to the point where partner is adding to it even post retirement taking a temp hospitality job at $28 an hour ( and more for holiday pay ).
Australians don't as a rule tip which prevents abuses in hospitality industry. People know their server is well compensated and only exceptional service might warrant a tip where elsewhere it might mean the difference in feeding the kids that night ....and is often added....up to 20% on a bill even if the service is shite. Some employers abuse that as well not paying the tips through to the server. In Cuba tips ( lifesavers) were pooled for all hotel staff so even the invisible work staff benefitted.
It is not a method of compensating workers tho....for Cuba was a vital source of tourist dollars.
Even agricultural work here is well paid
even backpackers who are on a working holiday are well compensated.
The total fund is over $3 trillion and cannot be accessed by gov wonks or by corporations as too often happens.
So the responsibility is shared .......a mid frontline medical worker can come out with a $600k fund after 30 years to help retirement....and if the situation warrants it then also a modest pension is available.
Canada sort of sits between the far more socialist structure in Australia and the predatory climate in the US.
Throw in slightly better than Canada medicare for all and it's one reason demand is very high to immigrate to Aus.
rolexsydneyhobart.com
100-120 is 3.9 to 4.7 in 6 hours.
/media/3443145/syho21af_0021.jpg)
at 5.30 pm Finally it let loose and a much cooler breeze.
