NEW WORK LAWS - Minimum employment standards
26 June 2009
The new workplace laws provide a ‘safety net’ for employees that cannot be stripped away. The safety net comprises of two parts—the National Employment Standards and new modern awards.
The National Employment Standards comprise 10 legislated employment conditions including maximum weekly hours of work, leave, public holidays, notice of termination and redundancy pay and the right to request flexible working arrangements.
The National Employment Standards:
- Maximum weekly hours of work
- The right to request flexible working arrangements
- Parental leave and related entitlements
- Annual leave
- Personal/Carer’s leave and compassionate leave
- Community service leave
- Long service leave
- Public holidays
- Notice of termination and redundancy pay
- Provision of a Fair Work Information Statement, which will detail the rights and entitlements of employees under the new system and how to seek advice and assistance.
The safety net will apply to all employees in the federal system from 1 January 2010 (some workers may still be employed according to state awards). Fair Work Australia, the new industrial umpire, will also set minimum wages for award and other employees through a national minimum wage.
RELATED WORKSITE LINKS
New work laws 1: Introducing Fair Work Australia
New work laws 3: Modern awards - updating a great Australian system
New work laws 4: Unfair dismissal – protection against getting the sack for no good reason