Contents
Chapter 1—Introduction 1
Part 1‑1—Introduction 1
Division 1—Preliminary 1
1............................ Short title............................................................................ 1
2............................ Commencement.................................................................. 1
Division 2—Object of this Act 4
3............................ Object of this Act................................................................ 4
Division 3—Guide to this Act 6
4............................ Guide to this Act................................................................. 6
5............................ Terms and conditions of employment (Chapter 2).............. 7
6............................ Rights and responsibilities of employees, employers, organisations etc. (Chapter 3) 8
7............................ Compliance and enforcement (Chapter 4)........................... 9
8............................ Administration (Chapter 5)............................................... 10
9............................ Miscellaneous (Chapter 6)................................................ 10
9A......................... Application, transitional and saving provisions for amendments (Schedules) 11
Part 1‑2—Definitions 12
Division 1—Introduction 12
10.......................... Guide to this Part.............................................................. 12
11.......................... Meanings of employee and employer................................ 12
Division 2—The Dictionary 13
12.......................... The Dictionary.................................................................. 13
Division 3—Definitions relating to the meanings of employee, employer etc. 50
13.......................... Meaning of national system employee.............................. 50
14.......................... Meaning of national system employer.............................. 50
14A....................... Transitional matters relating to employers etc. becoming, or ceasing to be, national system employers etc........................................................................................... 52
15.......................... Ordinary meanings of employee and employer................. 53
15A....................... Meaning of casual employee............................................ 53
Division 4—Other definitions 55
16.......................... Meaning of base rate of pay............................................. 55
17.......................... Meaning of child of a person............................................ 56
17A....................... Meaning of directly and indirectly (in relation to TCF work).. 56
18.......................... Meaning of full rate of pay............................................... 57
19.......................... Meaning of industrial action............................................ 58
20.......................... Meaning of ordinary hours of work for award/agreement free employees 59
21.......................... Meaning of pieceworker................................................... 60
22.......................... Meanings of service and continuous service..................... 61
23.......................... Meaning of small business employer............................... 64
23A....................... Terms relating to superannuation...................................... 65
23B........................ Meaning of general building and construction work......... 66
Part 1‑3—Application of this Act 68
Division 1—Introduction 68
24.......................... Guide to this Part.............................................................. 68
25.......................... Meanings of employee and employer................................ 68
Division 2—Interaction with State and Territory laws 69
26.......................... Act excludes State or Territory industrial laws................. 69
27.......................... State and Territory laws that are not excluded by section 26 71
28.......................... Act excludes prescribed State and Territory laws............. 72
29.......................... Interaction of modern awards and enterprise agreements with State and Territory laws 73
30.......................... Act may exclude State and Territory laws etc. in other cases 73
Division 2A—Application of this Act in States that refer matters before 1 July 2009 74
30A....................... Meaning of terms used in this Division............................ 74
30B........................ Meaning of referring State............................................... 79
30C........................ Extended meaning of national system employee............... 82
30D....................... Extended meaning of national system employer............... 82
30E........................ Extended ordinary meanings of employee and employer.. 83
30F........................ Extended meaning of outworker entity.............................. 83
30G....................... General protections........................................................... 84
30H....................... Division only has effect if supported by reference............ 84
Division 2B—Application of this Act in States that refer matters after 1 July 2009 but on or before 1 January 2010 85
30K........................ Meaning of terms used in this Division............................ 85
30L........................ Meaning of referring State............................................... 90
30M....................... Extended meaning of national system employee............... 93
30N....................... Extended meaning of national system employer............... 93
30P........................ Extended ordinary meanings of employee and employer.. 94
30Q....................... Extended meaning of outworker entity.............................. 94
30R........................ General protections........................................................... 95
30S........................ Division only has effect if supported by reference............ 95
Division 3—Geographical application of this Act 96
31.......................... Exclusion of persons etc. insufficiently connected with Australia 96
32.......................... Regulations may modify application of this Act in certain parts of Australia 96
32A....................... Rules may modify application of this Act in Norfolk Island 97
33.......................... Extension of this Act to the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf 98
34.......................... Extension of this Act beyond the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf 99
35.......................... Meanings of Australian employer and Australian‑based employee 101
35A....................... Regulations excluding application of Act........................ 102
36.......................... Geographical application of offences.............................. 102
Division 4—Miscellaneous 103
37.......................... Act binds Crown............................................................ 103
38.......................... Act not to apply so as to exceed Commonwealth power. 103
39.......................... Acquisition of property................................................... 104
40.......................... Interaction between fair work instruments and public sector employment laws 104
40A....................... Application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.............. 105
Chapter 2—Terms and conditions of employment 106
Part 2‑1—Core provisions for this Chapter 106
Division 1—Introduction 106
41.......................... Guide to this Part............................................................ 106
42.......................... Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 107
Division 2—Core provisions for this Chapter 108
Subdivision A—Terms and conditions of employment provided under this Act 108
43.......................... Terms and conditions of employment provided under this Act 108
Subdivision B—Terms and conditions of employment provided by the National Employment Standards 109
44.......................... Contravening the National Employment Standards......... 109
Subdivision C—Terms and conditions of employment provided by a modern award 109
45.......................... Contravening a modern award........................................ 109
46.......................... The significance of a modern award applying to a person 109
47.......................... When a modern award applies to an employer, employee, organisation or outworker entity 110
48.......................... When a modern award covers an employer, employee, organisation or outworker entity 111
49.......................... When a modern award is in operation............................. 112
Subdivision D—Terms and conditions of employment provided by an enterprise agreement 113
50.......................... Contravening an enterprise agreement............................ 113
51.......................... The significance of an enterprise agreement applying to a person 113
52.......................... When an enterprise agreement applies to an employer, employee or employee organisation 113
53.......................... When an enterprise agreement covers an employer, employee or employee organisation 114
54.......................... When an enterprise agreement is in operation................. 115
Division 3—Interaction between the National Employment Standards, modern awards and enterprise agreements 117
Subdivision A—Interaction between the National Employment Standards and a modern award or an enterprise agreement 117
55.......................... Interaction between the National Employment Standards and a modern award or enterprise agreement 117
56.......................... Terms of a modern award or enterprise agreement contravening section 55 have no effect 119
Subdivision B—Interaction between modern awards and enterprise agreements 120
57.......................... Interaction between modern awards and enterprise agreements 120
57A....................... Designated outworker terms of a modern award continue to apply 120
Subdivision C—Interaction between one or more enterprise agreements 121
58.......................... Only one enterprise agreement can apply to an employee 121
Part 2‑2—The National Employment Standards 123
Division 1—Introduction 123
59.......................... Guide to this Part............................................................ 123
60.......................... Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 124
Division 2—The National Employment Standards 125
61.......................... The National Employment Standards are minimum standards applying to employment of employees 125
Division 3—Maximum weekly hours 126
62.......................... Maximum weekly hours................................................. 126
63.......................... Modern awards and enterprise agreements may provide for averaging of hours of work 127
64.......................... Averaging of hours of work for award/agreement free employees 128
Division 4—Requests for flexible working arrangements 129
65.......................... Requests for flexible working arrangements................... 129
65A....................... Responding to requests for flexible working arrangements 130
65B........................ Disputes about the operation of this Division................. 133
65C........................ Arbitration...................................................................... 134
66.......................... State and Territory laws that are not excluded................. 136
Division 4A—Offers and requests for casual conversion 137
Subdivision A—Application of Division 137
66A....................... Division applies to casual employees etc........................ 137
Subdivision B—Employer offers for casual conversion 137
66AA.................... Subdivision does not apply to small business employers 137
66B........................ Employer offers.............................................................. 137
66C........................ When employer offers not required................................ 138
66D....................... Employee must give a response...................................... 140
66E........................ Acceptances of offers..................................................... 140
Subdivision C—Residual right to request casual conversion 140
66F........................ Employee requests.......................................................... 140
66G....................... Employer must give a response...................................... 142
66H....................... Refusals of requests........................................................ 142
66J......................... Grants of requests........................................................... 143
Subdivision D—Other provisions 144
66K........................ Effect of conversion........................................................ 144
66L........................ Other rights and obligations............................................ 144
66M....................... Disputes about the operation of this Division................. 144
Division 5—Parental leave and related entitlements 147
Subdivision A—General 147
67.......................... General rule—employee must have completed at least 12 months of service 147
68.......................... General rule for adoption‑related leave—child must be under 16 etc. 149
69.......................... Transfer of employment situations in which employee is entitled to continue on leave etc. 149
Subdivision B—Parental leave 150
70.......................... Entitlement to unpaid parental leave................................ 150
71.......................... The period of leave—other than for members of an employee couple who each intend to take leave 150
72.......................... The period of leave—members of an employee couple who each intend to take leave 152
72A....................... Flexible unpaid parental leave......................................... 155
73.......................... Pregnant employee may be required to take unpaid parental leave within 6 weeks before the birth 157
74.......................... Notice and evidence requirements................................... 159
75.......................... Extending period of unpaid parental leave—extending to use more of available parental leave period 162
76.......................... Extending period of unpaid parental leave—extending for up to 12 months beyond available parental leave period.............................................................................. 163
76A....................... Responding to requests for extension of unpaid parental leave 165
76B........................ Disputes about extension of period of unpaid parental leave 167
76C........................ Arbitration...................................................................... 169
77.......................... Reducing period of unpaid parental leave....................... 170
77A....................... Effect of stillbirth or death of child on unpaid parental leave 171
78.......................... Employee who ceases to have responsibility for care of child 172
78A....................... Hospitalised children...................................................... 173
79.......................... Interaction with paid leave.............................................. 175
79A....................... Keeping in touch days..................................................... 175
79B........................ Unpaid parental leave not extended by paid leave or keeping in touch days 177
Subdivision C—Other entitlements 177
80.......................... Unpaid special maternity leave........................................ 177
81.......................... Transfer to a safe job...................................................... 178
81A....................... Paid no safe job leave..................................................... 179
82.......................... Employee on paid no safe job leave may be asked to provide a further medical certificate 179
82A....................... Unpaid no safe job leave................................................. 180
83.......................... Consultation with employee on unpaid parental leave..... 181
84.......................... Return to work guarantee................................................ 181
84A....................... Replacement employees.................................................. 181
85.......................... Unpaid pre‑adoption leave.............................................. 182
Division 6—Annual leave 184
86.......................... Division applies to employees other than casual employees 184
87.......................... Entitlement to annual leave.............................................. 184
88.......................... Taking paid annual leave................................................. 185
89.......................... Employee not taken to be on paid annual leave at certain times 186
90.......................... Payment for annual leave................................................ 186
91.......................... Transfer of employment situations that affect entitlement to payment for period of untaken paid annual leave........................................................................................ 186
92.......................... Paid annual leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with permitted cashing out terms 187
93.......................... Modern awards and enterprise agreements may include terms relating to cashing out and taking paid annual leave................................................................................ 187
94.......................... Cashing out and taking paid annual leave for award/agreement free employees 188
Division 7—Personal/carer’s leave, compassionate leave and paid family and domestic violence leave 190
Subdivision A—Paid personal/carer’s leave 190
95.......................... Subdivision applies to employees other than casual employees 190
96.......................... Entitlement to paid personal/carer’s leave....................... 190
97.......................... Taking paid personal/carer’s leave.................................. 190
98.......................... Employee taken not to be on paid personal/carer’s leave at certain times 191
99.......................... Payment for paid personal/carer’s leave.......................... 191
100........................ Paid personal/carer’s leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with permitted cashing out terms........................................................................................ 192
101........................ Modern awards and enterprise agreements may include terms relating to cashing out paid personal/carer’s leave................................................................................ 192
Subdivision B—Unpaid carer’s leave 192
102........................ Entitlement to unpaid carer’s leave.................................. 192
103........................ Taking unpaid carer’s leave............................................ 193
Subdivision C—Compassionate leave 193
104........................ Entitlement to compassionate leave................................. 193
105........................ Taking compassionate leave............................................ 194
106........................ Payment for compassionate leave (other than for casual employees) 195
Subdivision CA—Paid family and domestic violence leave 195
106A..................... Entitlement to paid family and domestic violence leave... 195
106B...................... Taking paid family and domestic violence leave............. 196
106BA................... Payment for paid family and domestic violence leave..... 197
106C...................... Confidentiality................................................................ 197
106D..................... Operation of paid family and domestic violence leave and leave for victims of crime 198
106E...................... Entitlement to days of leave............................................ 198
Subdivision D—Notice and evidence requirements 198
107........................ Notice and evidence requirements................................... 198
Division 8—Community service leave 201
108........................ Entitlement to be absent from employment for engaging in eligible community service activity 201
109........................ Meaning of eligible community service activity............... 201
110........................ Notice and evidence requirements................................... 203
111........................ Payment to employees (other than casuals) on jury service 203
112........................ State and Territory laws that are not excluded................. 205
Division 9—Long service leave 207
113........................ Entitlement to long service leave..................................... 207
113A..................... Enterprise agreements may contain terms discounting service under prior agreements etc. in certain circumstances.................................................................. 209
Division 10—Public holidays 211
114........................ Entitlement to be absent from employment on public holiday 211
115........................ Meaning of public holiday.............................................. 212
116........................ Payment for absence on public holiday........................... 213
Division 11—Notice of termination and redundancy pay 214
Subdivision A—Notice of termination or payment in lieu of notice 214
117........................ Requirement for notice of termination or payment in lieu 214
118........................ Modern awards and enterprise agreements may provide for notice of termination by employees 215
Subdivision B—Redundancy pay 215
119........................ Redundancy pay............................................................. 215
120........................ Variation of redundancy pay for other employment or incapacity to pay 216
121........................ Exclusions from obligation to pay redundancy pay........ 217
122........................ Transfer of employment situations that affect the obligation to pay redundancy pay 218
Subdivision C—Limits on scope of this Division 219
123........................ Limits on scope of this Division..................................... 219
Division 12—Fair Work Ombudsman to prepare and publish statements 221
124........................ Fair Work Ombudsman to prepare and publish Fair Work Information Statement 221
125........................ Giving new employees the Fair Work Information Statement 221
125A..................... Fair Work Ombudsman to prepare and publish Casual Employment Information Statement 222
125B...................... Giving new employees the Casual Employment Information Statement 223
Division 13—Miscellaneous 224
126........................ Modern awards and enterprise agreements may provide for school‑based apprentices and trainees to be paid loadings in lieu................................................................ 224
127........................ Regulations about what modern awards and enterprise agreements can do 224
128........................ Relationship between National Employment Standards and agreements etc. permitted by this Part for award/agreement free employees.................................... 225
129........................ Regulations about what can be agreed to etc. in relation to award/agreement free employees 225
130........................ Restriction on taking or accruing leave or absence while receiving workers’ compensation 225
131........................ Relationship with other Commonwealth laws................. 226
Part 2‑3—Modern awards 227
Division 1—Introduction 227
132........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 227
133........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 228
Division 2—Overarching provisions 229
134........................ The modern awards objective......................................... 229
135........................ Special provisions relating to modern award minimum wages 230
Division 3—Terms of modern awards 232
Subdivision A—Preliminary 232
136........................ What can be included in modern awards......................... 232
137........................ Terms that contravene section 136 have no effect........... 233
138........................ Achieving the modern awards objective......................... 233
Subdivision B—Terms that may be included in modern awards 233
139........................ Terms that may be included in modern awards—general 233
140........................ Outworker terms............................................................. 234
141........................ Industry‑specific redundancy schemes........................... 235
142........................ Incidental and machinery terms....................................... 236
Subdivision C—Terms that must be included in modern awards 237
143........................ Coverage terms of modern awards other than modern enterprise awards and State reference public sector modern awards............................................................... 237
143A..................... Coverage terms of modern enterprise awards................. 239
143B...................... Coverage terms of State reference public sector modern awards 241
144........................ Flexibility terms.............................................................. 242
145........................ Effect of individual flexibility arrangement that does not meet requirements of flexibility term 243
145A..................... Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work. 244
146........................ Terms about settling disputes.......................................... 244
147........................ Ordinary hours of work.................................................. 245
148........................ Base and full rates of pay for pieceworkers.................... 245
149........................ Automatic variation of allowances.................................. 245
149B...................... Term requiring avoidance of liability to pay superannuation guarantee charge 245
149C...................... Default fund terms.......................................................... 246
149D..................... Default fund term must provide for contributions to be made to certain funds 246
Subdivision D—Terms that must not be included in modern awards 248
150........................ Objectionable terms........................................................ 248
151........................ Terms about payments and deductions for benefit of employer etc. 248
152........................ Terms about right of entry.............................................. 249
153........................ Terms that are discriminatory.......................................... 249
154........................ Terms that contain State‑based differences..................... 250
155........................ Terms dealing with long service leave............................ 250
Division 4A—4 yearly reviews of default fund terms of modern awards 251
Subdivision A—4 yearly reviews of default fund terms 251
156A..................... 4 yearly reviews of default fund terms............................ 251
Subdivision B—The first stage of the 4 yearly review 252
156B...................... Making the Default Superannuation List........................ 252
156C...................... Applications to list a standard MySuper product............ 252
156D..................... Submissions on applications to list a standard MySuper product 253
156E...................... Determining applications to list a standard MySuper product 254
156F...................... First stage criteria............................................................ 254
Subdivision C—Second stage of the 4 yearly review 255
156G..................... Review of the default fund term of modern awards........ 255
156H..................... Default fund term must specify certain superannuation funds 256
156J....................... Variation to comply with section 149D.......................... 257
156K...................... Transitional authorisation for certain superannuation funds 257
Subdivision D—The Schedule of Approved Employer MySuper Products 257
156L...................... The Schedule of Approved Employer MySuper Products 257
156M..................... FWC to invite applications to include employer MySuper products on schedule 258
156N..................... Making applications to include employer MySuper products on schedule 258
156P...................... FWC to determine applications....................................... 259
156Q..................... The first stage test........................................................... 260
156R...................... Submissions about the first stage test............................. 260
156S...................... The second stage test...................................................... 261
156T...................... Submissions about the second stage test......................... 261
Subdivision E—Publishing documents under this Division 262
156U..................... Publishing documents under this Division..................... 262
Division 5—Exercising modern award powers 263
Subdivision A—Exercise of powers if necessary to achieve modern awards objective 263
157........................ FWC may vary etc. modern awards if necessary to achieve modern awards objective 263
158........................ Applications to vary, revoke or make modern award...... 264
Subdivision B—Other situations 266
159........................ Variation of modern award to update or omit name of employer, organisation or outworker entity 266
159A..................... Variation of default fund term of modern award............. 267
160........................ Variation of modern award to remove ambiguity or uncertainty or correct error 268
161........................ Variation of modern award on referral by Australian Human Rights Commission 269
Division 6—General provisions relating to modern award powers 270
162........................ General........................................................................... 270
163........................ Special criteria relating to changing coverage of modern awards 270
164........................ Special criteria for revoking modern awards................... 271
165........................ When variation determinations come into operation, other than determinations setting, varying or revoking modern award minimum wages...................................... 271
166........................ When variation determinations setting, varying or revoking modern award minimum wages come into operation......................................................................... 272
167........................ Special rules relating to retrospective variations of awards 273
168........................ Varied modern award must be published........................ 274
Division 7—Additional provisions relating to modern enterprise awards 275
168A..................... Modern enterprise awards.............................................. 275
168B...................... The modern enterprise awards objective......................... 276
168C...................... Rules about making and revoking modern enterprise awards 276
168D..................... Rules about changing coverage of modern enterprise awards 278
Division 8—Additional provisions relating to State reference public sector modern awards 279
168E...................... State reference public sector modern awards.................. 279
168F...................... The State reference public sector modern awards objective 279
168G..................... Making State reference public sector modern awards on application 280
168H..................... State reference public sector modern awards may contain State‑based differences 281
168J....................... When State reference public sector modern awards come into operation 281
168K...................... Rules about revoking State reference public sector modern awards 282
168L...................... Rules about varying coverage of State reference public sector modern awards 283
Part 2‑4—Enterprise agreements 284
Division 1—Introduction 284
169........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 284
170........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 285
171........................ Objects of this Part......................................................... 285
Division 2—Employers and employees may make enterprise agreements 287
172........................ Making an enterprise agreement..................................... 287
172A..................... Special measures to achieve equality............................... 290
Division 3—Bargaining and representation during bargaining 291
173........................ Notice of employee representational rights..................... 291
174........................ Content and form of notice of employee representational rights 293
176........................ Bargaining representatives for proposed enterprise agreements that are not greenfields agreements 294
177........................ Bargaining representatives for proposed enterprise agreements that are greenfields agreements 296
178........................ Appointment of bargaining representatives—other matters 296
178A..................... Revocation of appointment of bargaining representatives etc. 297
178B...................... Notified negotiation period for a proposed single‑enterprise agreement that is a greenfields agreement 298
Division 4—Approval of enterprise agreements 300
Subdivision A—Pre‑approval steps and applications for the FWC’s approval 300
179........................ Disclosure by organisations that are bargaining representatives 300
179A..................... Disclosure by employers................................................ 301
180........................ Certain pre‑approval requirements.................................. 302
180A..................... Agreement of bargaining representatives that are employee organisations 304
181........................ Employers may request employees to approve a proposed enterprise agreement 304
182........................ When an enterprise agreement is made........................... 305
183........................ Entitlement of an employee organisation to have an enterprise agreement cover it 306
184........................ Multi‑enterprise agreement to be varied if not all employees approve the agreement 307
185........................ Bargaining representative must apply for the FWC’s approval of an enterprise agreement 308
185A..................... Material that must accompany an application under subsection 182(4) for approval of a greenfields agreement........................................................................................ 309
Subdivision B—Approval of enterprise agreements by the FWC 309
186........................ When the FWC must approve an enterprise agreement—general requirements 309
187........................ When the FWC must approve an enterprise agreement—additional requirements 312
188........................ Determining whether an enterprise agreement has been genuinely agreed to by employees 313
188A..................... Disclosure documents..................................................... 316
188B...................... Statement of principles on genuine agreement................ 316
189........................ FWC may approve an enterprise agreement that does not pass better off overall test—public interest test........................................................................................ 317
190........................ FWC may approve an enterprise agreement with undertakings 318
191........................ Effect of undertakings..................................................... 318
191A..................... FWC may approve an enterprise agreement with amendments 319
191B...................... Effect of amendment specified by FWC......................... 320
192........................ When the FWC may refuse to approve an enterprise agreement 320
Subdivision C—Better off overall test 321
193........................ Passing the better off overall test.................................... 321
193A..................... Applying the better off overall test.................................. 322
Subdivision D—Unlawful terms 324
194........................ Meaning of unlawful term.............................................. 324
195........................ Meaning of discriminatory term..................................... 325
195A..................... Meaning of objectionable emergency management term 327
Subdivision E—Approval requirements relating to particular kinds of employees 330
196........................ Shiftworkers................................................................... 330
197........................ Pieceworkers—enterprise agreement includes pieceworker term 330
198........................ Pieceworkers—enterprise agreement does not include a pieceworker term 331
199........................ School‑based apprentices and school‑based trainees...... 331
200........................ Outworkers..................................................................... 332
Subdivision F—Other matters 332
201........................ Approval decision to note certain matters....................... 332
Division 5—Mandatory terms of enterprise agreements 335
202........................ Enterprise agreements to include a flexibility term etc..... 335
203........................ Requirements to be met by a flexibility term................... 336
204........................ Effect of arrangement that does not meet requirements of flexibility term 337
205........................ Enterprise agreements to include a consultation term etc. 338
Division 6—Base rate of pay under enterprise agreements 340
206........................ Base rate of pay under an enterprise agreement must not be less than the modern award rate or the national minimum wage order rate etc.......................................... 340
Division 7—Variation and termination of enterprise agreements 342
Subdivision A—Variation of enterprise agreements by employers and employees: general circumstances 342
207........................ Variation of an enterprise agreement may be made by employers and employees 342
207A..................... Agreement of employee organisations covered by the agreement 343
208........................ Employers may request employees to approve a proposed variation of an enterprise agreement 343
209........................ When a variation of an enterprise agreement is made...... 344
210........................ Application for the FWC’s approval of a variation of an enterprise agreement 344
211........................ When the FWC must approve a variation of an enterprise agreement 345
212........................ FWC may approve a variation of an enterprise agreement with undertakings 349
213........................ Effect of undertakings..................................................... 349
213A..................... FWC may approve variation with amendments.............. 350
213B...................... Effect of amendment specified by FWC......................... 350
214........................ When the FWC may refuse to approve a variation of an enterprise agreement 351
215........................ Approval decision to note undertakings.......................... 351
215A..................... Approval decision to note amendments.......................... 352
216........................ When variation comes into operation.............................. 352
Subdivision AA—Variation of supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees (with consent) 352
216A..................... Variation of supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees 352
216AAA............... Terms of variation must be explained to employees........ 353
216AA.................. Application for the FWC’s approval of a variation of a supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees....................................................................... 353
216AB................... When the FWC must approve a variation of a supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees........................................................................................ 354
216AC................... Determining whether the FWC would have been required to make a supported bargaining authorisation........................................................................................ 355
216AD.................. Determining whether a variation of a supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees has been genuinely agreed to by affected employees............. 355
216AE................... When the FWC may refuse to approve a variation of a supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees....................................................................... 356
216AF................... When variation comes into operation.............................. 357
Subdivision AB—Variation of supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees (without consent) 357
216B...................... Application for the FWC to vary a supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees 357
216BA................... When the FWC must make a variation of a supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees........................................................................................ 358
216BB................... When the FWC may refuse to make a variation of a supported bargaining agreement to add employer and employees....................................................................... 359
216BC................... When variation comes into operation.............................. 360
Subdivision AC—Variation of cooperative workplace agreement to add employer and employees 360
216C...................... Variation of cooperative workplace agreement to add employer and employees 360
216CAA................ Terms of the variation must be explained to employees.. 360
216CA................... Application for the FWC’s approval of a variation of a cooperative workplace agreement to add employer and employees....................................................................... 361
216CB................... When the FWC must approve a variation of a cooperative workplace agreement to add employer and employees....................................................................... 362
216CC................... Determining whether a variation of a cooperative workplace agreement to add employer and employees has been genuinely agreed to by affected employees............. 363
216CD................... When the FWC may refuse to approve a variation of a cooperative workplace agreement 364
216CE................... When variation comes into operation.............................. 364
Subdivision AD—Variation of single interest employer agreement to add employer and employees 365
216D..................... Variation of single interest employer agreement to add employer and employees—joint variation 365
216DAA............... Terms of variation must be explained to employees........ 365
216DA.................. Application for the FWC’s approval of a variation of a single interest employer agreement to add employer and employees—joint variation....................................... 366
216DB................... Application for the FWC’s approval of a variation of a single interest employer agreement to add employer and employees—application by employee organisation.. 367
216DC................... When the FWC must approve a variation of a single interest employer agreement to add employer and employees....................................................................... 368
216DD.................. Determining whether a variation of a single interest employer agreement to add employer and employees has been genuinely agreed to by affected employees............. 372
216DE................... When the FWC may refuse to approve a variation of a single interest employer agreement 373
216DF................... When variation comes into operation.............................. 374
Subdivision AE—Variation of multi‑enterprise agreement to remove employer and employees 374
216E...................... Variation of multi‑enterprise agreement to remove employer and employees with consent 374
216EA................... Application for the FWC’s approval of variation............ 375
216EB................... When the FWC must approve variation of multi‑enterprise agreement to remove employer and employees........................................................................................ 376
216EC................... When variation comes into operation.............................. 376
216ED................... Effect of variation........................................................... 377
Subdivision B—Variations of enterprise agreements where there is ambiguity, uncertainty or discrimination 377
217........................ Variation of an enterprise agreement to remove an ambiguity or uncertainty 377
217A..................... FWC may deal with certain disputes about variations..... 377
218........................ Variation of an enterprise agreement on referral by Australian Human Rights Commission 378
Subdivision BA—Variation of enterprise agreements to correct or amend errors, defects or irregularities 379
218A..................... Variation of enterprise agreements to correct or amend errors, defects or irregularities 379
Subdivision C—Termination of enterprise agreements by employers and employees 379
219........................ Employers and employees may agree to terminate an enterprise agreement 379
220........................ Employers may request employees to approve a proposed termination of an enterprise agreement 380
221........................ When termination of an enterprise agreement is agreed to 380
222........................ Application for the FWC’s approval of a termination of an enterprise agreement 381
223........................ When the FWC must approve a termination of an enterprise agreement 381
224........................ When termination comes into operation.......................... 382
Subdivision D—Termination of enterprise agreements after nominal expiry date 382
225........................ Application for termination of an enterprise agreement after its nominal expiry date 382
226........................ Terminating an enterprise agreement after its nominal expiry date 383
226A..................... Guarantee of termination entitlements............................. 384
227........................ When termination comes into operation.......................... 387
Division 7A—Reconsideration of whether an enterprise agreement passes the better off overall test 388
227A..................... Application for FWC to reconsider whether an enterprise agreement passes the better off overall test 388
227B...................... Reconsideration of whether an enterprise agreement passes the better off overall test 389
227C...................... Effect of undertakings..................................................... 390
227D..................... Effect of amendment....................................................... 391
227E...................... No creation of liability to pay pecuniary penalty for past conduct 391
Division 8—FWC’s general role in facilitating bargaining 393
Subdivision A—Bargaining orders 393
228........................ Bargaining representatives must meet the good faith bargaining requirements 393
229........................ Applications for bargaining orders................................. 394
230........................ When the FWC may make a bargaining order................ 395
231........................ What a bargaining order must specify............................. 397
232........................ Operation of a bargaining order...................................... 398
233........................ Contravening a bargaining order..................................... 398
Subdivision B—Intractable bargaining declarations 399
234........................ Applications for intractable bargaining declarations........ 399
235........................ When the FWC may make an intractable bargaining declaration 399
235A..................... Post‑declaration negotiating period................................. 401
Subdivision C—Majority support determinations and scope orders 402
236........................ Majority support determinations..................................... 402
237........................ When the FWC must make a majority support determination 402
238........................ Scope orders................................................................... 404
239........................ Operation of a scope order.............................................. 405
Subdivision D—FWC may deal with a bargaining dispute on request 406
240........................ Application for the FWC to deal with a bargaining dispute 406
Subdivision E—Voting request orders 407
240A..................... Application to FWC for voting request order................. 407
240B...................... FWC must make voting request order............................ 408
Division 9—Supported bargaining 409
241........................ Objects of this Division.................................................. 409
242........................ Supported bargaining authorisations............................... 409
243........................ When the FWC must make a supported bargaining authorisation 410
243A..................... Restrictions on making supported bargaining authorisations 411
244........................ Variation of supported bargaining authorisations—general 412
245........................ Variation of supported bargaining authorisations—enterprise agreement etc. comes into operation 414
246........................ FWC’s assistance........................................................... 414
Division 10—Single interest employer authorisations 415
248........................ Single interest employer authorisations........................... 415
249........................ When the FWC must make a single interest employer authorisation 415
249A..................... Restriction on making single interest employer authorisations 419
250........................ What a single interest employer authorisation must specify 419
251........................ Variation of single interest employer authorisations....... 420
251A..................... Restriction on variation of single interest employer authorisation 425
252........................ Variation to extend period single interest employer authorisation is in operation 426
Division 11—Other matters 427
253........................ Terms of an enterprise agreement that are of no effect.... 427
254........................ Applications by bargaining representatives..................... 427
254A..................... Entitlement for volunteer bodies to make submissions... 428
255........................ Part does not empower the FWC to make certain orders 428
255A..................... Limitations relating to greenfields agreements................ 429
256........................ Prospective employers and employees............................ 430
256A..................... How employees, employers and employee organisations are to be described 430
257........................ Enterprise agreements may incorporate material in force from time to time etc. 430
Part 2‑5—Workplace determinations 431
Division 1—Introduction 431
258........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 431
259........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 432
Division 3—Industrial action related workplace determinations 433
266........................ When the FWC must make an industrial action related workplace determination 433
267........................ Terms etc. of an industrial action related workplace determination 434
268........................ No other terms................................................................ 435
Division 4—Intractable bargaining workplace determinations 436
269........................ When the FWC must make an intractable bargaining workplace determination 436
270........................ Terms etc. of an intractable bargaining workplace determination 436
271........................ No other terms................................................................ 437
Division 5—Core terms, mandatory terms and agreed terms of workplace determinations etc. 438
272........................ Core terms of workplace determinations......................... 438
273........................ Mandatory terms of workplace determinations............... 439
274........................ Agreed terms for workplace determinations................... 440
275........................ Factors the FWC must take into account in deciding terms of a workplace determination 441
Division 6—Operation, coverage and interaction etc. of workplace determinations 442
276........................ When a workplace determination operates etc................. 442
277........................ Employers, employees and employee organisations covered by a workplace determination 442
278........................ Interaction of a workplace determination with enterprise agreements etc. 443
279........................ Act applies to a workplace determination as if it were an enterprise agreement 444
Division 7—Other matters 446
280........................ Contravening a workplace determination........................ 446
281........................ Applications by bargaining representatives..................... 446
281AA.................. Entitlement for volunteer bodies to make submissions... 446
281A..................... How employees, employers and employee organisations are to be described 447
Part 2‑6—Minimum wages 448
Division 1—Introduction 448
282........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 448
283........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 449
Division 2—Overarching provisions 450
284........................ The minimum wages objective........................................ 450
Division 3—Annual wage reviews 452
Subdivision A—Main provisions 452
285........................ Annual wage reviews to be conducted............................ 452
286........................ When annual wage review determinations varying modern awards come into operation 452
287........................ When national minimum wage orders come into operation etc. 453
Subdivision B—Provisions about conduct of annual wage reviews 455
288........................ General........................................................................... 455
289........................ Everyone to have a reasonable opportunity to make and comment on submissions 455
290........................ President may direct investigations and reports.............. 456
291........................ Research must be published............................................ 457
292........................ Varied wage rates must be published.............................. 457
Division 4—National minimum wage orders 458
293........................ Contravening a national minimum wage order................ 458
294........................ Content of national minimum wage order—main provisions 458
295........................ Content of national minimum wage order—other matters 459
296........................ Variation of national minimum wage order to remove ambiguity or uncertainty or correct error 460
297........................ When determinations varying national minimum wage orders come into operation 460
298........................ Special rule about retrospective variations of national minimum wage orders 461
299........................ When a national minimum wage order is in operation.... 462
Part 2‑7—Equal remuneration 463
Division 1—Introduction 463
300........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 463
301........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 463
Division 2—Equal remuneration orders 464
302........................ FWC may make an order requiring equal remuneration.. 464
303........................ Equal remuneration order may increase, but must not reduce, rates of remuneration 466
304........................ Equal remuneration order may implement equal remuneration in stages 466
305........................ Contravening an equal remuneration order..................... 466
306........................ Inconsistency with modern awards, enterprise agreements and orders of the FWC 466
Part 2‑8—Transfer of business 467
Division 1—Introduction 467
307........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 467
308........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 467
309........................ Object of this Part........................................................... 468
Division 2—Transfer of instruments 469
310........................ Application of this Division............................................ 469
311........................ When does a transfer of business occur.......................... 469
312........................ Instruments that may transfer.......................................... 471
313........................ Transferring employees and new employer covered by transferable instrument 471
314........................ New non‑transferring employees of new employer may be covered by transferable instrument 472
315........................ Organisations covered by transferable instrument.......... 473
316........................ Transferring employees who are high income employees 474
Division 3—Powers of the FWC 476
317........................ FWC may make orders in relation to a transfer of business 476
318........................ Orders relating to instruments covering new employer and transferring employees 476
319........................ Orders relating to instruments covering new employer and non‑transferring employees 478
320........................ Variation of transferable instruments.............................. 480
Part 2‑9—Other terms and conditions of employment 482
Division 1—Introduction 482
321........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 482
322........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 482
Division 2—Payment of wages etc. 483
323........................ Method and frequency of payment................................. 483
324........................ Permitted deductions....................................................... 484
325........................ Unreasonable requirements to spend or pay amount....... 484
326........................ Certain terms have no effect............................................ 485
327........................ Things given or provided, and amounts required to be spent or paid, in contravention of this Division 486
Division 3—Guarantee of annual earnings 487
328........................ Employer obligations in relation to guarantee of annual earnings 487
329........................ High income employee................................................... 488
330........................ Guarantee of annual earnings and annual rate of guarantee 489
331........................ Guaranteed period........................................................... 490
332........................ Earnings.......................................................................... 490
333........................ High income threshold.................................................... 491
333A..................... Prospective employees.................................................... 492
Division 4—Prohibiting pay secrecy 493
333B...................... Employees not subject to pay secrecy............................. 493
333C...................... Pay secrecy terms to have no effect................................ 494
333D..................... Prohibition on pay secrecy terms.................................... 494
Chapter 3—Rights and responsibilities of employees, employers, organisations etc. 495
Part 3‑1—General protections 495
Division 1—Introduction 495
334........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 495
335........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 495
336........................ Objects of this Part......................................................... 496
Division 2—Application of this Part 497
337........................ Application of this Part................................................... 497
338........................ Action to which this Part applies.................................... 497
339........................ Additional effect of this Part........................................... 498
Division 3—Workplace rights 500
340........................ Protection........................................................................ 500
341........................ Meaning of workplace right........................................... 500
342........................ Meaning of adverse action............................................. 502
343........................ Coercion......................................................................... 505
344........................ Undue influence or pressure........................................... 505
345........................ Misrepresentations.......................................................... 506
Division 4—Industrial activities 507
346........................ Protection........................................................................ 507
347........................ Meaning of engages in industrial activity....................... 507
348........................ Coercion......................................................................... 508
349........................ Misrepresentations.......................................................... 508
350........................ Inducements—membership action.................................. 509
Division 5—Other protections 510
351........................ Discrimination................................................................ 510
352........................ Temporary absence—illness or injury............................ 511
353........................ Bargaining services fees................................................. 511
354........................ Coverage by particular instruments................................. 512
355........................ Coercion—allocation of duties etc. to particular person.. 512
356........................ Objectionable terms........................................................ 513
Division 6—Sham arrangements 514
357........................ Misrepresenting employment as independent contracting arrangement 514
358........................ Dismissing to engage as independent contractor............. 514
359........................ Misrepresentation to engage as independent contractor.. 514
Division 7—Ancillary rules 516
360........................ Multiple reasons for action............................................. 516
361........................ Reason for action to be presumed unless proved otherwise 516
362........................ Advising, encouraging, inciting or coercing action......... 516
363........................ Actions of industrial associations................................... 516
364........................ Unincorporated industrial associations........................... 518
Division 8—Compliance 519
Subdivision A—Contraventions involving dismissal 519
365........................ Application for the FWC to deal with a dismissal dispute 519
366........................ Time for application........................................................ 519
367........................ Application fees.............................................................. 519
368........................ Dealing with a dismissal dispute (other than by arbitration) 520
369........................ Dealing with a dismissal dispute by arbitration............... 521
370........................ Taking a dismissal dispute to court................................. 522
Subdivision B—Other contraventions 522
372........................ Application for the FWC to deal with a non‑dismissal dispute 522
373........................ Application fees.............................................................. 523
374........................ Conferences.................................................................... 523
375........................ Advice on general protections court application.............. 523
Subdivision C—Appeals and costs orders 524
375A..................... Appeal rights.................................................................. 524
375B...................... Costs orders against parties............................................ 524
376........................ Costs orders against lawyers and paid agents................. 524
377........................ Applications for costs orders.......................................... 525
377A..................... Schedule of costs............................................................ 525
378........................ Contravening costs orders.............................................. 526
Part 3‑2—Unfair dismissal 527
Division 1—Introduction 527
379........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 527
380........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 527
381........................ Object of this Part........................................................... 527
Division 2—Protection from unfair dismissal 529
382........................ When a person is protected from unfair dismissal.......... 529
383........................ Meaning of minimum employment period...................... 529
384........................ Period of employment..................................................... 529
Division 3—What is an unfair dismissal 531
385........................ What is an unfair dismissal............................................. 531
386........................ Meaning of dismissed..................................................... 531
387........................ Criteria for considering harshness etc............................. 532
388........................ The Small Business Fair Dismissal Code....................... 533
389........................ Meaning of genuine redundancy.................................... 533
Division 4—Remedies for unfair dismissal 534
390........................ When the FWC may order remedy for unfair dismissal.. 534
391........................ Remedy—reinstatement etc............................................. 534
392........................ Remedy—compensation................................................. 536
393........................ Monetary orders may be in instalments.......................... 537
Division 5—Procedural matters 538
394........................ Application for unfair dismissal remedy......................... 538
395........................ Application fees.............................................................. 538
396........................ Initial matters to be considered before merits.................. 539
397........................ Matters involving contested facts.................................... 539
398........................ Conferences.................................................................... 539
399........................ Hearings......................................................................... 540
399A..................... Dismissing applications.................................................. 540
400........................ Appeal rights.................................................................. 541
400A..................... Costs orders against parties............................................ 541
401........................ Costs orders against lawyers and paid agents................. 541
402........................ Applications for costs orders.......................................... 542
403........................ Schedule of costs............................................................ 542
404........................ Security for costs............................................................ 543
405........................ Contravening orders under this Part............................... 543
Part 3‑3—Industrial action 544
Division 1—Introduction 544
406........................ Guide to this Part............................................................ 544
407........................ Meanings of employee and employer.............................. 545
Division 2—Protected industrial action 546
Subdivision A—What is protected industrial action 546
408........................ Protected industrial action............................................... 546
409........................ Employee claim action.................................................... 546
410........................ Employee response action............................................... 548
411........................ Employer response action............................................... 549
412........................ Pattern bargaining........................................................... 549
Subdivision B—Common requirements for industrial action to be protected industrial action 551
413........................ Common requirements that apply for industrial action to be protected industrial action 551
414....................