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NRLW premiership matches may be subject to extra breaks in play after it was announced a new season would kick-off with a match in a noon timeslot in February.

The NRLW will operate two tournaments next year with the rearranged 2021 campaign beginning on February 27, leading into an April 10 grand final.

Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium hosts a six-team triple-header, with St George Illawarra facing competition newcomers Parramatta at midday.

Round two of the NRLW will also be a triple-header at Wollongong's WIN Stadium, with Queensland not hosting a game until round four.

"We've thought about the location because of the time of the year," NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

"So that's why we're not going to play in Queensland to start with. In fact, the first two meetings take place at coastal venues - that was quite deliberate.

"We play All Stars and trials at this time of year, so players are used to it.

"And we've got a great policy and a policy we take very seriously. So depending on the conditions at the time, we know that we have the armory to deal with that.

"If we need to have quarter times because it's unseasonally hot on a particular weekend, we will."

Under the NRL's heat guidelines, games played in increased temperatures are mandated to include more drinks breaks and offer shaded areas for players and officials to rest in.

Factors such as wind, ground temperature and humidity are taken into consideration and in the worst case, games can be cancelled.

But the NRL's summer switch has received the backing from the Rugby League Players' Association.

"We're working with the NRL to mitigate some of the concerns that can come with heat exposure," RLPA chief executive Clint Newton told AAP.

"Our heat policy has been in place for several years. We have seen in the men's game that there have been different challenges with the heat in the past."

Usually reserved for August, the rescheduled NRLW season includes new teams Parramatta, Gold Coast and Newcastle along with existing sides Dragons, Brisbane and the Sydney Roosters.

While NRLW fixtures are often played as curtain-raisers to NRL clashes, the February start allows for the women's game to enjoy their own broadcast platform on the Nine Network and Fox Sports.

"It's a great outcome for us to have stand-alone Sunday afternoon football fixtures that are on a free and main channel," Abdo said.

"(They) also don't really clash with too much other sport. To have consistency of time slots (allows) for us to really build a great live atmosphere."

© AAP 2021

Image: NRLW Facebook

A shortage of retail workers is hampering Australian businesses after lockdown and there are calls for overseas workers to fill the void.

National Retail Association chief executive Dominique Lamb said many members were struggling to find staff to resume regular trade and prepare for the Christmas rush.

"We absolutely have a skills shortage at this time. It's proving to be getting worse," she said.

A survey published this week showed job advertising across all industries reached a 13-year high in October. Retail leaders are sure their industry contributed greatly to the National Skills Commission figures.

Ms Lamb said many retail employers could not afford to retain workers during the most recent coronavirus lockdowns affecting the ACT, NSW and Victoria.

"We've seen retail workers become dissatisfied with the uncertainty," she said.

"If you were not an essential retail worker, you still have to feed your family. These people have gone to other industries that are still able to trade or offer more consistency in work hours."

The federal government's JobKeeper wage subsidy, which helped employers retain workers, ended before the most recent lockdowns.

Cafes and restaurants makeup a sizeable part of the retail industry and have experienced the same problem.

Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive Wes Lambert said reopening for many was bittersweet due to the staff shortage.

"There is a severe worker shortage in Australia and it needs urgent attention by the federal government," he said.

He called for overseas workers to be allowed in to the country. Gaining Australian residency should also be made easier, Mr Lambert said.

"We are losing too many good workers to overseas markets," he said.

Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said while international students and skilled migrants could return before Christmas, business would still struggle to fill all vacant casual positions.

McDonald's Australia recently began its annual hiring spree before the Christmas holidays.

A spokeswoman said the company had been challenged by the labour shortages like many employers.

She said McDonald's looked forward to regaining skilled, seasonal and overseas workers.

A representative for workers saw the problem differently.

Retail and Fast Food Workers Union secretary Josh Cullinan said the situation showed retail workers deserved better conditions.

"We haven't got time for the crocodile tears of employers who dismissed workers during lockdown and now complain workers aren't available," he said.

He said some workers were choosing other industries such as disability support which did not have such as casualised workforce.

© AAP 2021