Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 137
GENERAL READING TEST 137 – PASSAGE – 2
GENERAL READING TEST – 137
READING PASSAGE – 2
Read the text below and answer Questions 14-22.
Employees and Contractors
An employee is someone who performs work under a contract of employment. Identifying who is, or is not, an employee has become an increasingly disputed area, with a number of different factors to be considered. Non — employees may be ‘ independent contractors’ or ‘sub- contractors’ and are employed under a contract for services or even as agents representing a client business. The legal consequences of being an independent contractor are significantly different to those for employees. Only an ’employee ‘ can be covered by an award1 or make a workplace agreement. However, some cleaners, outworkers and some drivers of public passenger vehicles who might ordinarily be considered independent contractors are deemed to be employees under the Fair Work Act.
The rights and obligations of employees are very different to those who are self-employed. To distinguish between employees and independent contractors, the courts take into account a number of ‘ factors to determine what the real nature of a particular work relationship is. These factors may include: Control over work-generally an employee works as directed by the employer whereas a contractor has a greater say in how the work is to be done.
Payment-employees are usually paid on the basis of an hourly rate or a salary. Contractors are more often paid for a required outcome, with less regard for time.
Work injury-contractors are responsible to insure themselves against injury but employees are not. Risk-employees generally do not bear in a direct way the risk of financial loss incurred by the business for which they work. Contractors have a chance of profit, and also the risk of loss.
Sub-contracting-an employee cannot assign or delegate the work to others whereas a contractor is typically permitted to do so.
Tools and equipment-contractors may supply special equipment or tools to do the job. Income tax and superannuation-employers usually pay these for their employees whereas contractors make ‘ their own arrangements.
Questions 14-22
Classify the following as
A. contractors
B. employees
C. employers
Write the correct letter A, B or C.
You may use any letter more than once.
People who
14. work for wages or salary rather than profit
15. pay tax on behalf of others
16. have less responsibility for the way in which a job is carried out
17. do not provide their own work gear
18. pay by the hour
19. do not have the freedom to pay other people to do their job for them
20. do not benefit from belonging to a trade union
21. are paid for the end result rather than hours recorded 22. are required to sign an employment contract
Read the text below and answer Questions 23 – 28.
Paid parental Leave
If you are a working parent expecting a child after July 31st, the information below about Paid Parental Leave concerns you. From 1st August, the first national Paid Parental Leave scheme will start. It’s a new entitlement for working parents, funded by the government. Taking time away from work for a new baby is a common part of working life. Paid Parental Leave is designed to help parents spend time with a new baby and also to help employers retain skilled staff.
Eligible working parents of children born or adopted on or after 1st August may get 18 weeks government-funded pay at the National Minimum Wage to help them care for a new baby. Full-time, part-time, casual, seasonal, contract and self-employed workers may be eligible. You must have worked at least 330 hours (just over one day a week) for 10 of the 13 months before your new baby arrives. You can have up to an 8 week unpaid break between two working days and still be eligible. You can earn up to $100,000 a year (individual salary) and still be eligible.
Usually the mother must apply for Paid Parental Leave. If you are eligible, you can transfer some or all of the pay to your partner (he needs to be eligible too). The scheme gives families more options to balance work and family.
You can claim up to three months in advance, and your pay can start any time you choose from when your child is born or adopted. It will be paid in one continuous period from the start date and must all be taken with the first year after the birth or adoption. You are encouraged to apply early.
Eligible parents can receive Parental Leave pay at the same time, before or after other employer-provided paid leave or entitlements. The existing minimum entitlement to 12 months unpaid parental leave for long-term employees is unchanged.
From 1st August, employers must provide Government-funded Parental Leave pay through their usual pay cycle to eligible employees who have been with their business for at least 12 months. Other eligible parents will be paid through the Family Assistance Office.
For further information visit the website or call the appropriate number below: www.ppl.govt.com
Parents 01800 4321
Employers 01800 1211
Questions 23 and 24
Choose TWO letters. A-E.
Eligibility for Paid Parental Leave requires employees to have worked a certain number of hours in the months preceding the arrival of a baby. Of those, who is entitled to Paid Parental Leave?
A. New parents only
B. Working mothers only
C. A couple who adopts a child
D. A father earning less than $100,000
E. All parents who work for the government
Questions 25-28
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
Write
TRUE – if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE – if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN – if there is no information on this
25. Employees can start getting Paid Parental Leave up to 3 months before the child is born.
26. Employees cannot receive the benefit once the child reaches the age of 12 months.
27. Employees who do not make a claim early may miss out on Paid Parental Leave.
28. Employees can take advantage of both state-paid and employer-paid parental leave at the same time.
ANSWERS ARE BELOW
ANSWERS
14.B
15. C
16. B
17. B
18. C
19. B
20. A
21. A
22. B
23-24 C AND D (IN ANY ORDER)25. FALSE
26. TRUE
27. NOT GIVEN
28. TRUE