Employers will be aware the Australian Parliament has passed the Fair Work Legislation Amendment – Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill – 2022. The amendments to the law regulating the formation, management and conduct of employee relations are wide ranging and shift the power to organised labour unions and industry level responses to wages and conditions of employment.
The amendments include significant limitations on fixed term employment, enhance the right of employees to demand more flexible work arrangements, prohibit pay secrecy clauses in contracts, emphasise gender equity, impose additional obligations in relation to preventing sexual harassment and anti-discrimination, and establish a complex and costly web of legal procedures to ‘rope-in’ Australian businesses into industry level enterprise agreements.
While many of the provisions will not commence until 6 months after the date of Royal Assent, employers will need to consider the impact of the changes on the way that you employ and manage staff.
We will provide further specific information explaining the changes for each of the areas of the law and conduct an interactive Webinar with a full Q&A in January 2023.
In the interim, if you have any questions on the new laws and the impact on your own business or organisation please contact me on 0417 523 901 or paul@maguire.com.au.
