Fair Work commencing in January 2010
When you return to work in 2010 your employees will be covered by a new set of industrial arrangements. Since July 2009, the Australian Government's Fair Work Act has governed industrial relations matters for corporations and their employees in NSW. Sole traders and partnerships remained within the NSW state system, however with the recent decision of the NSW Government, from January 2010 the Commonwealth's Fair Work Act will cover every employer and employee in the private sector in NSW. New legislation has been drafted to make this happen.
- Employees of the State public service and local government will not move to the national IR system
For all employers and employees currently covered by the NSW industrial relations system, there is some important information that you will need to know to prepare for your business's move into the national scheme.
- Current awards will be replaced by new Modern Awards from 1 January 2010 - some of which have different conditions and entitlements from those they replace. Have you found out which NSW award your business is currently covered by and which modern award you will be transferring to?
- Are arrangements in place so that your business will comply with the ten National Employment Standards when they come into force?
- Have you got a Fair Work Information Statement ready to give to your employees?
- Are you keeping the required records and giving employees pay slips?
- Are you aware of your options for making an enterprise agreement with employees?
- Do you understand how to bargain in good faith if you want to make an enterprise agreement with employees?
- Do you understand and are you able to comply with the Fair Dismissal Code if terminating an employee's employment?
If you are unsure of your position you can obtain fact sheets from