Victoria’s industry groups have criticised the Andrews Government’s new Australian-first “sick pay guarantee” scheme for casual workers as not “necessary.” “Now is not the time for another cost to taxpayers when casual workers already have additional loading catered for their hourly wage,” Paul Guerra from Chief Executive from Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement released on March 14. The Victorian Labor Government announced on March 14 “Australian-first sick pay guarantee for casual workers” under the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee pilot program. The state is investing $245.6 million (US$176.9 million) under the scheme to provide casual workers with 38 hours of leave per year at the minimum hourly wage of $20.33 (US$14.64). The Victorian government said that the new program aims to “transform casual and contract work in Victoria by providing vulnerable workers with the safety net they need to take time off when they’re sick or …