What Are Fair Work Requirements?

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New Resources About Pay, Conditions, Enterprise Agreements and Bargaining 

The Fair Work system provides the legal framework for workplace relations, setting standards for employee rights, pay and conditions.  These standards are established by the Fair Work Act and are enforced by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO). 

The Fair Work Commission is responsible for setting minimum wages, resolving disputes, and approving enterprise agreements.  The Fair Work Ombudsman, on the other hand, ensures compliance with workplace laws, investigates breaches, and offers education and guidance on workplace rights. 

Understanding these requirements allows businesses to build stronger relationships with their workforce and uphold their legal obligations. 

 

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To support employers and employees, the FWC, in partnership with the FWO, has launched new online resources to simplify the complexities of workplace laws.  These tools: 

  • provide clear insight into workplace rights and responsibilities 

  • explain how bargaining influences these rights 

  • highlight the importance of enterprise agreements in shaping effective workplace practices 

For business owners and employers, these resources offer practical and accessible guidance with navigating workplace laws confidently.  They cover crucial areas like pay, entitlements and agreements, and are designed to help businesses manage their obligations efficiently. 

FWC Online Learning Portal 

The FWC Online Learning Portal features clear and straightforward training videos that explain how different parts of the Fair Work system connect.  The National Employment Standards (NES) set the minimum rights for all employees, while the National Minimum Wage provides the lowest pay rate that must be met. 

Awards set out industry-specific pay and conditions, and enterprise agreements are negotiated at the workplace level, offering tailored conditions that must meet or exceed the NES and awards.  Employment contracts can provide additional terms but must align with these legal requirements.  This helps ensure fair and consistent workplace conditions. 

These videos offer practical insights into employee pay and entitlements, detailing where they come from and how awards, enterprise agreements, and contracts interact.  They also cover what enterprise agreements are, how they are created and when they apply – a small business case study is included. 

Additionally, the videos outline the key steps in effective bargaining, including the roles and responsibilities of each party.  These resources are helpful for anyone looking to understand workplace rules with ease. 

You can access supporting resources at the FWC Online Learning Portal: 

Further Resources 

Disclaimer: This blog post is a summary of a newsletter produced by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and distributed by members. All or any advice contained in this article is of a general nature only and may not apply to your individual business circumstances.

For specific advice relating to your specific situation, please contact your accountant or contact QiBalance Bookkeeping for further discussion. 

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers 
Tel: 1300 856 181 
Email: admin@icb.org.au