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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
2019-2020
The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Presented and read a first time
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting
Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(Industrial Relations)
A Bill for an Act to amend the
Fair Work Act 2009
and the
Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and
Consequential Amendments) Act 2009
, and for
related purposes
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
i
Contents
1
Short title ........................................................................................... 1
2
Commencement ................................................................................. 1
3
Schedules ........................................................................................... 3
Schedule 1--Casual employees
5
Part 1--Main amendments
5
Fair Work Act 2009
5
Part 2--Other amendments
18
Fair Work Act 2009
18
Schedule 2--Modern awards
21
Part 1--Additional hours for part-time employees
21
Fair Work Act 2009
21
Part 2--Flexible work directions
30
Fair Work Act 2009
30
Part 3--Repeal of Part 6-4D of the Fair Work Act 2009
37
Fair Work Act 2009
37
Schedule 3--Enterprise agreements etc.
38
Part 1--Objects
38
Fair Work Act 2009
38
Part 2--Notice of employee representational rights
39
Fair Work Act 2009
39
Part 3--Pre-approval requirements
40
Fair Work Act 2009
40
Part 4--Voting requirements
42
Fair Work Act 2009
42
Part 5--Better off overall test
43
Division 1--Main amendments
43
Fair Work Act 2009
43
ii
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Division 2--Sunsetting of additional power to approve enterprise
agreements that do not pass the better off overall test
46
Fair Work Act 2009
46
Part 6--NES interaction terms
47
Fair Work Act 2009
47
Part 7--Variation of single enterprise agreements to cover
eligible franchisee employers and their employees
50
Fair Work Act 2009
50
Part 8--Terminating agreements after nominal expiry date
56
Fair Work Act 2009
56
Part 9--How the FWC may inform itself
57
Fair Work Act 2009
57
Part 10--Time limits for determining certain applications
59
Fair Work Act 2009
59
Part 11--FWC functions
61
Fair Work Act 2009
61
Part 12--Transfer of business
62
Fair Work Act 2009
62
Part 13--Cessation of instruments
63
Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments)
Act 2009
63
Schedule 4--Greenfields agreements
66
Fair Work Act 2009
66
Schedule 5--Compliance and enforcement
69
Part 1--Orders relating to civil remedy provisions
69
Division 1--Main amendments
69
Fair Work Act 2009
69
Division 2--Consequential amendments
72
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
iii
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act
2016
72
Part 2--Small claims procedure
73
Division 1--Main amendments
73
Fair Work Act 2009
73
Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999
79
Division 2--Amendments contingent on the commencement of the
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2020
79
Fair Work Act 2009
79
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2020
80
Part 3--Prohibiting employment advertisements with pay rate
less than the national minimum wage
81
Fair Work Act 2009
81
Part 4--Compliance notices, infringement notices and
enforceable undertakings
83
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act
2016
83
Fair Work Act 2009
84
Part 5--Sham arrangements
85
Fair Work Act 2009
85
Part 6--Functions of the ABC Commissioner and the Fair
Work Ombudsman
86
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act
2016
86
Fair Work Act 2009
86
Part 7--Criminalising underpayments
87
Division 1--Main amendments
87
Fair Work Act 2009
87
Division 2--Consequential amendments
91
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act
2016
91
Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
92
iv
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Schedule 6--The Fair Work Commission
93
Fair Work Act 2009
93
Schedule 7--Application, saving and transitional provisions
96
Fair Work Act 2009
96
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
1
A Bill for an Act to amend the
Fair Work Act 2009
1
and the
Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and
2
Consequential Amendments) Act 2009
, and for
3
related purposes
4
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
5
1 Short title
6
This Act is the
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's
7
Jobs and Economic Recovery) Act 2020
.
8
2 Commencement
9
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table
10
commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with
11
2
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect
1
according to its terms.
2
3
Commencement information
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Provisions
Commencement
Date/Details
1. Sections 1 to 3
and anything in
this Act not
elsewhere covered
by this table
The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.
2. Schedule 1
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
3. Schedule 2,
Parts 1 and 2
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
4. Schedule 2,
Part 3
The day after the end of the period of 2 years
beginning on the day after this Act receives
the Royal Assent.
5. Schedule 3,
Parts 1 to 4
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
6. Schedule 3,
Part 5, Division 1
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
7. Schedule 3,
Part 5, Division 2
The day after the end of the period of 2 years
beginning on the day after this Act receives
the Royal Assent.
8. Schedule 3,
Parts 6 to 13
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
9. Schedule 4
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
10. Schedule 5,
Part 1
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
11. Schedule 5,
Part 2, Division 1
The day after the end of the period of 6
months beginning on the day this Act
receives the Royal Assent.
12. Schedule 5,
Part 2, Division 2
The later of:
(a) immediately after the commencement of
the provisions covered by table item 11;
and
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
3
Commencement information
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Provisions
Commencement
Date/Details
(b) the commencement of the
Federal
Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Act 2020
.
However, the provisions do not commence
at all if the event mentioned in paragraph (b)
does not occur.
13. Schedule 5,
Part 3
The day after the end of the period of 6
months beginning on the day this Act
receives the Royal Assent.
14. Schedule 5,
Parts 4 and 5
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
15. Schedule 5,
Part 6
The day after the end of the period of 6
months beginning on the day this Act
receives the Royal Assent.
16. Schedule 5,
Part 7
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
17. Schedule 6
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
18. Schedule 7,
item 1
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
19. Schedule 7,
items 2 and 3
The day after the end of the period of 6
months beginning on the day this Act
receives the Royal Assent.
Note:
This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally
1
enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of
2
this Act.
3
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act.
4
Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it
5
may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
6
3 Schedules
7
Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or
8
repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule
9
4
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect
1
according to its terms.
2
Casual employees
Schedule 1
Main amendments
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
5
Schedule 1--Casual employees
1
Part 1--Main amendments
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
1 Section 12
4
Insert:
5
casual employee
: see section 15A.
6
2 At the end of Division 3 of Part 1-2
7
Add:
8
15A Meaning of
casual employee
9
(1) A person is a
casual employee
of an employer if:
10
(a) an offer of employment made by the employer to the person
11
is made on the basis that the employer makes no firm
12
advance commitment to continuing and indefinite work
13
according to an agreed pattern of work for the person; and
14
(b) the person accepts the offer on that basis; and
15
(c) the person is an employee as a result of that acceptance.
16
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), in determining whether, at the
17
time the offer is made, the employer makes no firm advance
18
commitment to continuing and indefinite work according to an
19
agreed pattern of work for the person, regard must be had only to
20
the following considerations:
21
(a) whether the employer can elect to offer work and whether the
22
person can elect to accept or reject work;
23
(b) whether the person will work only as required;
24
(c) whether the employment is described as casual employment;
25
(d) whether the person will be entitled to a casual loading or a
26
specific rate of pay for casual employees under the terms of
27
the offer or a fair work instrument.
28
Note:
Under Division 4A of Part 2-2, a casual employee who has worked for
29
an employer for at least 12 months and has, during at least the last 6
30
Schedule 1
Casual employees
Part 1
Main amendments
6
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
months of that time, worked a regular pattern of hours on an ongoing
1
basis may be entitled to be offered, or request, conversion to full-time
2
employment or part-time employment.
3
(3) To avoid doubt, a regular pattern of hours does not of itself
4
indicate a firm advance commitment to continuing and indefinite
5
work according to an agreed pattern of work.
6
(4) To avoid doubt, the question of whether a person is a casual
7
employee of an employer is to be assessed on the basis of the offer
8
of employment and the acceptance of that offer, not on the basis of
9
any subsequent conduct of either party.
10
(5) A person who commences employment as a result of acceptance of
11
an offer of employment in accordance with subsection (1) remains
12
a
casual employee
of the employer until:
13
(a) the employee's employment is converted to full-time or
14
part-time employment under Division 4A of Part 2-2; or
15
(b) the employee accepts an alternative offer of employment
16
(other than as a casual employee) by the employer and
17
commences work on that basis.
18
3 After Division 4 of Part 2-2
19
Insert:
20
Division 4A--Offers and requests for casual conversion
21
Subdivision A--Application of Division
22
66A Division applies to casual employees etc.
23
(1) This Division applies in relation to an employee who is a casual
24
employee.
25
(2) A reference in this Division to full-time employment or part-time
26
employment is taken not to include employment for a specified
27
period of time, for a specified task or for the duration of a specified
28
season.
29
Casual employees
Schedule 1
Main amendments
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
7
Subdivision B--Employer offers for casual conversion
1
66B Employer offers
2
(1) Subject to section 66C, an employer must make an offer to a casual
3
employee under this section if:
4
(a) the employee has been employed by the employer for a
5
period of 12 months beginning the day the employment
6
started; and
7
(b) during at least the last 6 months of that period, the employee
8
has worked a regular pattern of hours on an ongoing basis
9
which, without significant adjustment, the employee could
10
continue to work as a full-time employee or a part-time
11
employee (as the case may be).
12
Note:
An employee who meets the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b)
13
would also be a regular casual employee because the employee has
14
been employed by the employer on a regular and systematic basis.
15
(2) The offer must:
16
(a) be in writing; and
17
(b) be an offer for the employee to convert:
18
(i) for an employee that has worked the equivalent of
19
full-time hours during the period referred to in
20
paragraph (1)(b)--to full-time employment; or
21
(ii) for an employee that has worked less than the
22
equivalent of full-time hours during the period referred
23
to in paragraph (1)(b)--to part-time employment that is
24
consistent with the regular pattern of hours worked
25
during that period; and
26
(c) be given to the employee within the period of 21 days after
27
the end of the 12 month period referred to in
28
paragraph (1)(a).
29
Note:
If an offer is accepted, the conversion to full-time employment or
30
part-time employment has effect for all purposes (see section 66K
).
31
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), in determining whether an
32
award/agreement free employee has worked the equivalent of
33
full-time hours, regard may be had to the hours of work of any
34
other full-time employees of the employer employed in the same
35
Schedule 1
Casual employees
Part 1
Main amendments
8
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
position as (or in a position that is comparable to) the position of
1
the employee.
2
66C When employer offers not required
3
(1) Despite section 66B, an employer is not required to make an offer
4
under that section to a casual employee if:
5
(a) there are reasonable grounds not to make the offer; and
6
(b) the reasonable grounds are based on facts that are known, or
7
reasonably foreseeable, at the time of deciding not to make
8
the offer.
9
(2) Without limiting paragraph (1)(a), reasonable grounds for deciding
10
not to make an offer include the following:
11
(a) the employee's position will cease to exist in the period of 12
12
months after the time of deciding not to make the offer;
13
(b) the hours of work which the employee is required to perform
14
will be significantly reduced in that period;
15
(c) there will be a significant change in either or both of the
16
following in that period:
17
(i) the days on which the employee's hours of work are
18
required to be performed;
19
(ii) the times at which the employee's hours of work are
20
required to be performed;
21
which cannot be accommodated within the days or times the
22
employee is available to work during that period;
23
(d) making the offer would not comply with a recruitment or
24
selection process required by or under a law of the
25
Commonwealth or a State or a Territory.
26
(3) An employer must give written notice to a casual employee in
27
accordance with subsection (4) if:
28
(a) the employer decides under subsection (1) not to make an
29
offer to the employee; or
30
(b) the employee has been employed by the employer for the 12
31
month period referred to in paragraph 66B(1)(a) but does not
32
meet the requirement referred to in paragraph 66B(1)(b).
33
Casual employees
Schedule 1
Main amendments
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
9
Note:
If an employer fails to give notice to a casual employee, the employee
1
has a residual right to request conversion to full-time or part-time
2
employment in certain circumstances: see Subdivision C.
3
(4) The notice must:
4
(a) advise the employee that the employer is not making an offer
5
under section 66B; and
6
(b) include details of the reasons for not making the offer
7
(including any grounds on which the employer has decided to
8
not make the offer); and
9
(c) give the notice to the employee within 21 days after the end
10
of the 12 month period referred to in paragraph 66B(1)(a).
11
66D Employee must give a response
12
(1) The employee must give the employer a written response to the
13
offer within 21 days after the offer is given to the employee, stating
14
whether the employee accepts or declines the offer.
15
(2) If the employee fails to give the employer a written response in
16
accordance with subsection (1), the employee is taken to have
17
declined the offer.
18
66E Acceptances of offers
19
(1) If the employee accepts the offer, the employer must, within 21
20
days after the day the acceptance is given to the employer, give
21
written notice to the employee of the following:
22
(a) whether the employee is converting to full-time employment
23
or part-time employment;
24
(b) the employee's hours of work after the conversion takes
25
effect;
26
(c) the day the employee's conversion to full-time employment
27
or part-time employment takes effect.
28
(2) However, the employer must discuss with the employee the matters
29
the employer intends to specify for the purposes of
30
paragraphs (1)(a), (b) and (c) before giving the notice.
31
(3) The day specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) must be the
32
first day of the employee's first full pay period that starts after
the
33
Schedule 1
Casual employees
Part 1
Main amendments
10
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
day the notice is given, unless the employee and employer agree to
1
another day.
2
Subdivision C--Residual right to request casual conversion
3
66F Employee requests
4
(1) A casual employee may make a request of an employer under this
5
section if:
6
(a) the employee has been employed by the employer for a
7
period of at least 12 months beginning the day the
8
employment started; and
9
(b) the employee has, in the period of 6 months ending the day
10
the request is given, worked a regular pattern of hours on an
11
ongoing basis which, without significant adjustment, the
12
employee could continue to work as a full-time employee or
13
a part-time employee (as the case may be); and
14
(c) all of the following apply:
15
(i) the employee has not, at any time during the period
16
referred to in paragraph (b), refused an offer made to the
17
employee under section 66B;
18
(ii) the employer has not, at any time during that period,
19
given the employee a notice in accordance with
20
paragraph 66C(3)(a) (which deals with notice of
21
employer decisions not to make offers on reasonable
22
grounds);
23
(iii) the employer has not, at any time during that period,
24
given a response to the employee under section 66G
25
refusing a previous request made under this section;
26
(iv) the request is not made during the period of 21 days
27
after the period referred to in paragraph 66B(1)(a).
28
(2) The request must:
29
(a) be in writing; and
30
(b) be a request for the employee to convert:
31
(i) for an employee that has worked the equivalent of
32
full-time hours during the period referred to in
33
paragraph (1)(b)--to full-time employment; or
34
Casual employees
Schedule 1
Main amendments
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
11
(ii) for an employee that has worked less than the
1
equivalent of full-time hours during the period referred
2
to in paragraph (1)(b)--to part-time employment that is
3
consistent with the regular pattern of hours worked
4
during that period; and
5
(c) be given to the employer.
6
Note:
If a request is accepted, the conversion to full-time employment or
7
part-time employment has effect for all purposes (see section 66K).
8
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), in determining whether an
9
award/agreement free employee has worked the equivalent of
10
full-time hours, regard may be had to the hours of work of any
11
other full-time employees of the employer employed in the same
12
position as (or in a position that is comparable to) the position of
13
the employee.
14
66G Employer must give a response
15
The employer must give the employee a written response to the
16
request within 21 days after the request is given to the employer,
17
stating whether the employer grants or refuses the request.
18
66H Refusals of requests
19
(1) The employer must not refuse the request unless:
20
(a) the employer has consulted the employee; and
21
(b) there are reasonable grounds to refuse the request; and
22
(c) the reasonable grounds are based on facts that are known, or
23
reasonably foreseeable, at the time of refusing the request.
24
(2) Without limiting paragraph (1)(b), reasonable grounds for refusing
25
the request include the following:
26
(a) it would require a significant adjustment to the employee's
27
hours of work in order for the employee to be employed as a
28
full-time employee or part-time employee;
29
(b) the employee's position will cease to exist in the period of 12
30
months after giving the request;
31
(c) the hours of work which the employee is required to perform
32
will be significantly reduced in the period of 12 months after
33
giving the request;
34
Schedule 1
Casual employees
Part 1
Main amendments
12
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(d) there will be a significant change in either or both of the
1
following in the period of 12 months after giving the request:
2
(i) the days on which the employee's hours of work are
3
required to be performed;
4
(ii) the times at which the employee's hours of work are
5
required to be performed;
6
which cannot be accommodated within the days or times the
7
employee is available to work during that period;
8
(e) granting the request would not comply with a recruitment or
9
selection process required by or under a law of the
10
Commonwealth or a State or a Territory.
11
(3) If the employer refuses the request, the written response under
12
section 66G must include details of the reasons for the refusal.
13
66J Grants of requests
14
(1) If the employer grants the request, the employer must, within 21
15
days after the day the request is given to the employer, give written
16
notice to the employee of the following:
17
(a) whether the employee is converting to full-time employment
18
or part-time employment;
19
(b) the employee's hours of work after the conversion takes
20
effect;
21
(c) the day the employee's conversion to full-time employment
22
or part-time employment takes effect.
23
(2) However, the employer must discuss with the employee the matters
24
the employer intends to specify for the purposes of
25
paragraphs (1)(a), (b) and (c) before giving the notice.
26
(3) The day specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) must be the
27
first day of the employee's first full pay period that starts after
the
28
day the notice is given, unless the employee and employer agree to
29
another day.
30
(4) To avoid doubt, the notice may be included in the written response
31
under section 66G.
32
Casual employees
Schedule 1
Main amendments
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
13
Subdivision D--Other provisions
1
66K Effect of conversion
2
To avoid doubt, an employee is taken, on and after the day
3
specified in a notice for the purposes of paragraph 66E(1)(c) or
4
66J(1)(c), to be a full-time employee or part-time employee of the
5
employer for the purposes of the following:
6
(a) this Act and any other law of the Commonwealth;
7
(b) a law of a State or Territory;
8
(c) any fair work instrument that applies to the employee;
9
(d) the employee's contract of employment.
10
66L Other rights and obligations
11
(1) An employer must not reduce or vary an employee's hours of
12
work, or terminate an employee's employment, in order to avoid
13
any right or obligation under this Division.
14
Note:
The general protections provisions in Part 3-1 also prohibit the taking
15
of adverse action by an employer against an employee (which includes
16
a casual employee) because of a workplace right of the employee
17
under this Division.
18
(2) Nothing in this Division:
19
(a) requires an employee to convert to full-time employment or
20
part-time employment; or
21
(b) permits an employer to require an employee to convert to
22
full-time employment or part-time employment; or
23
(c) requires an employer to increase the hours of work of an
24
employee who requests conversion to full-time employment
25
or part-time employment under this Division.
26
66M Disputes about the operation of this Division
27
Application of this section
28
(1) This section applies to a dispute between an employer and
29
employee about the operation of this Division.
30
Schedule 1
Casual employees
Part 1
Main amendments
14
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(2) However, this section does not apply in relation to the dispute if
1
any of the following includes a term that provides a procedure for
2
dealing with the dispute:
3
(a) a fair work instrument that applies to the employee;
4
(b) the employee's contract of employment;
5
(c) another written agreement between the employer and
6
employee.
7
Note:
Modern awards and enterprise agreements must include a term that
8
provides a procedure for settling disputes in relation to the National
9
Employment Standards (see paragraph 146(b) and subsection 186(6)).
10
Resolving disputes
11
(3) In the first instance, the parties to the dispute must attempt to
12
resolve the dispute at the workplace level, by discussions between
13
the parties.
14
FWC may deal with disputes
15
(4) If discussions at the workplace level do not resolve the dispute, a
16
party to the dispute may refer the dispute to the FWC.
17
(5) If a dispute is referred under subsection (4):
18
(a) the FWC must deal with the dispute; and
19
(b) if the parties notify the FWC that they agree to the FWC
20
arbitrating the dispute--the FWC may deal with the dispute
21
by arbitration.
22
Note:
For the purposes of paragraph (a), the FWC may deal with the dispute
23
as it considers appropriate, including by mediation, conciliation,
24
making a recommendation or expressing an opinion (see
25
subsection 595(2)).
26
Representatives
27
(6) The employer or employee to the dispute may appoint a person or
28
industrial association to provide the employer or employee (as the
29
case may be) with support or representation for the purposes of
30
resolving, or the FWC dealing with, the dispute.
31
Note:
A person may be represented by a lawyer or paid agent in a matter
32
before the FWC only with the permission of the FWC (see
33
section 596).
34
Casual employees
Schedule 1
Main amendments
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
15
4 Division 12 of Part 2-2 (heading)
1
Repeal the heading, substitute:
2
Division 12--Fair Work Ombudsman to prepare and
3
publish statements
4
5 At the end of Division 12
5
Add:
6
125A Fair Work Ombudsman to prepare and publish Casual
7
Employment Information Statement
8
(1) The Fair Work Ombudsman must prepare a Casual Employment
9
Information Statement. The Fair Work Ombudsman must publish
10
the Statement in the Gazette.
11
Note:
If the Fair Work Ombudsman changes the Statement, the Fair Work
12
Ombudsman must publish the new version of the Statement in the
13
Gazette.
14
(2) The Statement must contain information about casual employment
15
and offers and requests for casual conversion under Division 4A of
16
Part 2-2, including the following:
17
(a) the meaning of casual employee under section 15A;
18
(b) an employer offer for casual conversion must generally be
19
made to certain casual employees within 21 days after the
20
employee has completed 12 months of employment;
21
(c) an employer can decide not to make an offer for casual
22
conversion if there are reasonable grounds to do so, but the
23
employer must notify the employee of these grounds;
24
(d) certain casual employees will also have a residual right to
25
request casual conversion;
26
(e) the FWC may deal with disputes about the operation of that
27
Division.
28
(3) The Casual Employment Information Statement is not a legislative
29
instrument.
30
Schedule 1
Casual employees
Part 1
Main amendments
16
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(4) The regulations may prescribe other matters relating to the content
1
or form of the Statement, or the manner in which employers may
2
give the Statement to employees.
3
125B Giving new employees the Casual Employment Information
4
Statement
5
(1) An employer must give each casual employee the Casual
6
Employment Information Statement before, or as soon as
7
practicable after, the employee starts employment as a casual
8
employee with the employer.
9
(2) Subsection (1) does not require the employer to give the employee
10
the Statement more than once in any 12 months.
11
Note:
This is relevant if the employer employs the employee more than once
12
in the 12 months.
13
6 After section 545
14
Insert:
15
545A Orders relating to casual loading amounts
16
(1) This section applies if:
17
(a) a person is employed by an employer in circumstances where
18
the employment is described as casual employment; and
19
(b) the employer pays the person an identifiable amount (the
20
loading amount
) paid to compensate the person for not
21
having one or more relevant entitlements during a period (the
22
employment period
); and
23
(c) during the employment period, the person was not a casual
24
employee; and
25
(d) the person (or another person for the benefit of the person)
26
makes a claim to be paid an amount for one or more of the
27
relevant entitlements with respect to the employment period.
28
Note:
For the purposes of paragraph (d), another person making a claim for
29
the benefit of the person could include an inspector or an employee
30
organisation.
31
(2) When making any orders in relation to the claim, a court must
32
reduce (but not below nil) any amount payable by the employer to
33
Casual employees
Schedule 1
Main amendments
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
17
the person for the relevant entitlements (the
claim amount
) by an
1
amount equal to the loading amount.
2
Note:
If the claim is below a certain amount, the person may choose to use
3
the small claims procedure: see section 548.
4
(3) Despite subsection (2), the court may reduce the claim amount by
5
an amount equal to a proportion (which may be nil) of the loading
6
amount the court considers appropriate, having regard only to:
7
(a) if a term of the fair work instrument or contract of
8
employment under which the loading amount is paid
9
specifies the relevant entitlements the loading amount is
10
compensating for and specifies the proportion of the loading
11
amount attributable to each such entitlement--that term
12
(including those proportions); or
13
(b) if such a term specifies the relevant entitlements the loading
14
amount is compensating for but does not specify the
15
proportion of the loading amount attributable to each such
16
entitlement--that term and what would be an appropriate
17
proportion of the loading amount attributable to each of those
18
entitlements in all the circumstances; or
19
(c) if paragraph (a) or (b) does not apply--the entitlements
20
referred to in subsection (4) and what would be an
21
appropriate proportion of the loading amount attributable to
22
each of those entitlements in all the circumstances.
23
(4) A reference in this section to a
relevant entitlement
is a reference
24
to an entitlement under the National Employment Standards, a fair
25
work instrument or a contract of employment to any of the
26
following:
27
(a) paid annual leave;
28
(b) paid personal/carer's leave;
29
(c) paid compassionate leave;
30
(d) payment for absence on a public holiday;
31
(e) payment in lieu of notice of termination;
32
(f) redundancy pay.
33
(5) To avoid doubt, an entitlement referred to in subsection (4)
34
includes any such entitlement that has accrued but is untaken.
35
Schedule 1
Casual employees
Part 2
Other amendments
18
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Part 2--Other amendments
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
7 Section 12 (definition of
long term casual
)
3
Repeal the definition.
4
8 Section 12
5
Insert:
6
regular casual employee
: a national system employee of a national
7
system employer is a
regular casual employee
at a particular time
8
if, at that time:
9
(a) the employee is a casual employee; and
10
(b) the employee has been employed by the employer on a
11
regular and systematic basis.
12
9 Paragraph 23(2)(b)
13
Omit the words after "at that time,", substitute "the employee is a
14
regular casual employee of the employer".
15
10 After paragraph 61(2)(b)
16
Insert:
17
(ba) offers and requests for casual conversion (Division 4A);
18
11 Subparagraph 65(2)(b)(i)
19
Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:
20
(i) is, immediately before making the request, a regular
21
casual employee of the employer who has been
22
employed on that basis for a sequence of periods of
23
employment during a period of at least 12 months; and
24
12 After subsection 65(2)
25
Insert:
26
(2A) For the purposes of applying paragraph (2)(a) in relation to an
27
employee who has had their employment converted under
28
Casual employees
Schedule 1
Other amendments
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
19
Division 4A of Part 2-2, any period for which the employee was a
1
regular casual employee of the employer is taken to be continuous
2
service for the purposes of that paragraph.
3
13 After subsection 67(1)
4
Insert:
5
(1A) For the purposes of applying subsection (1) in relation to an
6
employee who has had their employment converted under
7
Division 4A of Part 2-2, any period for which the employee was a
8
regular casual employee of the employer is taken to be continuous
9
service for the purposes of that subsection.
10
14 Paragraph 67(2)(a)
11
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
12
(a) the employee is, or will be, immediately before the date that
13
applies under subsection (3), a regular casual employee of the
14
employer who has been employed on that basis for a
15
sequence of periods of employment during a period of at
16
least 12 months; and
17
15 Subsection 87(1)
18
Omit "with his or her employer", substitute "with an employer (other
19
than periods of employment as a casual employee of the employer)".
20
16 Subsection 87(2)
21
After "year of service", insert "(other than periods of employment as a
22
casual employee of the employer)".
23
17 Subsection 96(1)
24
Omit "with his or her employer", substitute "with an employer (other
25
than periods of employment as a casual employee of the employer)".
26
18 Subsection 96(2)
27
After "year of service", insert "(other than periods of employment as a
28
casual employee of the employer)".
29
19 At the end of section 117
30
Add:
31
Schedule 1
Casual employees
Part 2
Other amendments
20
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(4) A reference in this section to continuous service with the employer
1
does not include periods of employment as a casual employee of
2
the employer.
3
20 At the end of section 119
4
Add:
5
(3) A reference in this section to continuous service with the employer
6
does not include periods of employment as a casual employee of
7
the employer.
8
21 Paragraph 121(1)(a)
9
After "with the employer", insert "(other than periods of employment as
10
a casual employee of the employer)".
11
22 Subparagraph 384(2)(a)(i)
12
Omit "on a regular and systematic basis", substitute "as a regular casual
13
employee".
14
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Additional hours for part-time employees
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
21
Schedule 2--Modern awards
1
Part 1--Additional hours for part-time employees
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
1 Section 12
4
Insert:
5
additional agreed hours
: see subsection 168M(1).
6
identified modern award
: see subsections 168M(3) and (4).
7
relevant identified modern award
, in relation to an employer and
8
an employee: see subsection 168M(1).
9
simplified additional hours agreement
: see subsection 168M(1).
10
2 Section 132
11
After:
12
Division 8 contains additional provisions relating to State reference
13
public sector modern awards.
14
Insert:
15
Division 9 contains provisions for part-time employees, to whom
16
certain modern awards apply, to agree to work additional agreed
17
hours through simplified additional hours agreements.
18
3 After paragraph 136(1)(b)
19
Insert:
20
(ba) Division 9 (which deals with terms for part-time employees
21
to agree to work additional agreed hours); or
22
4 At the end of Subdivision B of Division 5 of Part 2-3
23
Add:
24
Schedule 2
Modern awards
Part 1
Additional hours for part-time employees
22
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
161A Variation of modern award to resolve uncertainty or difficulty
1
relating to simplified additional hours agreements
2
(1) Subject to subsection 168S(2), the FWC may make a determination
3
varying an identified modern award:
4
(a) to resolve an uncertainty or difficulty relating to the
5
interaction between the provisions of Division 9 and any
6
terms of the identified modern award; or
7
(b) to make the identified modern award operate effectively with
8
those provisions.
9
Note:
Certain provisions of Division 9 are taken to be terms of each
10
identified modern award. The FWC must not vary or revoke these
11
terms (see section 168S).
12
(2) The FWC may make the determination:
13
(a) on its own initiative; or
14
(b) on application by an employer, employee, organisation or
15
outworker entity to which the award applies; or
16
(c) on application by an organisation that is entitled to represent
17
the industrial interests of one or more employers or
18
employees to which the award applies.
19
(3) A variation of an identified modern award under this section
20
operates from the day specified in the determination, which may be
21
a day before the determination is made.
22
5 At the end of Part 2-3
23
Add:
24
Division 9--Agreements for part-time employees to work
25
additional agreed hours
26
Subdivision A--Simplified additional hours agreements
27
168M When a simplified additional hours agreement may be made
28
(1) An employer and an employee may enter into an agreement under
29
this Subdivision (a
simplified
additional hours agreement
) for the
30
employee to work additional hours (
additional agreed hours
) if:
31
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Additional hours for part-time employees
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
23
(a) an identified modern award (the
relevant identified modern
1
award
) applies to the employer and employee; and
2
(b) the employee is a part-time employee under the relevant
3
identified modern award; and
4
(c) the employee's ordinary hours of work are:
5
(i) if the relevant identified modern award provides for the
6
employee's ordinary hours of work to be averaged over
7
a period (such as a roster cycle)--at least 16 hours per
8
week, averaged over such a period; or
9
(ii) otherwise--at least 16 hours per week.
10
Note:
For
applies
, in relation to a modern award, see section 47.
11
(2) An employer must not require an employee to enter into a
12
simplified additional hours agreement.
13
Note 1:
Entering into a simplified additional hours agreement, or not doing so,
14
is also a workplace right for the purposes of the general protections in
15
Part 3-1 (see section 168T).
16
Note 2:
Also, section 344 prohibits the exertion of undue influence or undue
17
pressure on an employee in relation to a decision by the employee to
18
enter into, or not enter into, a simplified additional hours agreement.
19
(3) In this Act:
20
identified modern award
means the following modern awards, as
21
in force from time to time:
22
(a) the
Business Equipment Award 2020
;
23
(b) the
Commercial Sales Award 2020
;
24
(c) the
Fast Food Industry Award 2010
;
25
(d) the
General Retail Industry Award 2020
;
26
(e) the
Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020
;
27
(f) the
Meat Industry Award 2020
;
28
(g) the
Nursery Award 2020
;
29
(h) the
Pharmacy Industry Award 2020
;
30
(i) the
Restaurant Industry Award 2020
;
31
(j) the
Registered and Licensed Clubs Award 2010
;
32
(k) the
Seafood Processing Award 2020
;
33
(l) the
Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020
;
34
Schedule 2
Modern awards
Part 1
Additional hours for part-time employees
24
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(m) a modern award prescribed by the regulations for the
1
purposes of this paragraph.
2
(4) Despite subsection (3), a modern award is not an
identified
3
modern award
if the regulations prescribe the modern award for
4
the purposes of this subsection.
5
Interaction with other provisions of relevant identified modern
6
award
7
(5) An employer and an employee may agree, other than under this
8
Subdivision, for the employee to work additional hours (however
9
described) if an identified modern award that applies to the
10
employer and employee allows for this.
11
(6) However, if the employee and the employer enter into an
12
agreement under this Subdivision, this Subdivision prevails over
13
any other provision of the relevant identified modern award to the
14
extent of any inconsistency.
15
168N Entering into simplified additional hours agreement
16
(1) A simplified additional hours agreement:
17
(a) must identify additional agreed hours to be worked on one or
18
more days; and
19
(b) must be entered into before the start of the first such period
20
of additional agreed hours.
21
(2) The employer must:
22
(a) inform the employee that the agreement is a simplified
23
additional hours agreement before the employee agrees to it;
24
and
25
(b) if the agreement is not in writing--make a record of the
26
agreement in writing before the end of the first period of
27
additional agreed hours worked under the agreement; and
28
(c) keep a copy of the agreement or the record, as the case may
29
be, and provide a copy to the employee if requested to do so.
30
(3) If the employer fails to comply with subsection (2), the simplified
31
additional hours agreement is of no effect.
32
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Additional hours for part-time employees
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
25
(4) To avoid doubt, additional agreed hours may include part hours,
1
subject to subsection 168P(1) (additional agreed hours must be, or
2
be part of, a period of continuous work of at least 3 hours).
3
(5) An employer may enter into a simplified additional hours
4
agreement with an employee who is under 18 only if a parent or
5
guardian of the employee has consented, in writing, to the
6
employer entering into simplified additional hours agreements with
7
the employee.
8
(6) A consent mentioned in subsection (5) has effect until it is
9
withdrawn.
10
168P Requirements for simplified additional hours agreements
11
(1) Each period of additional agreed hours to be worked under a
12
simplified additional hours agreement must:
13
(a) be a continuous period of at least 3 hours; or
14
(b) be part of a period of continuous work of at least 3 hours.
15
Note:
For example, a period of 1 hour of additional agreed hours worked
16
after the end of a 2 hour shift, so that the period of continuous work is
17
3 hours in total, will satisfy the requirement in paragraph (b).
18
(2) A meal break or other break required by the relevant identified
19
modern award does not prevent a period being continuous for the
20
purposes of subsection (1).
21
(3) A simplified additional hours agreement has no effect to the extent
22
that it is inconsistent with a provision of the relevant identified
23
modern award:
24
(a) that limits the maximum number of consecutive days that the
25
employee may be required to work or that requires the
26
employee not to work on a day; and
27
(b) that cannot be varied or avoided by any agreement or
28
arrangement between the employer and the employee.
29
Schedule 2
Modern awards
Part 1
Additional hours for part-time employees
26
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
168Q Effect of simplified additional hours agreement
1
Additional agreed hours may be worked
2
(1) If an employer and an employee enter into a simplified additional
3
hours agreement, the employee may work for each period of
4
additional agreed hours provided for by the agreement (subject to
5
any requirement in the relevant identified modern award for the
6
employee to take a break after a certain period).
7
Note:
This Subdivision prevails over anything in the relevant identified
8
modern award to the extent of any inconsistency (see
9
subsection 168M(6)).
10
Payment for additional agreed hours
11
(2) Additional agreed hours are to be paid without overtime.
12
(3) Despite subsection (2), overtime is payable in respect of additional
13
agreed hours:
14
(a) to the extent that those hours result in the employee working
15
outside a span or spread of hours, specified in the relevant
16
identified modern award, outside of which the relevant
17
identified modern award requires any part-time employee to
18
be paid overtime; or
19
(b) to the extent that those hours, together with any other hours
20
worked by the employee (not including hours for which
21
overtime is paid), result in the employee working more than:
22
(i) a maximum number of hours, specified in the relevant
23
identified modern award, that any part-time employee
24
may work in a day without being paid overtime; or
25
(ii) if the identified modern award provides for the
26
employee's ordinary hours of work to be averaged over
27
a period (such as a roster cycle)--38 hours per week,
28
averaged over such a period; or
29
(iii) if subparagraph (ii) does not apply--38 hours in a week;
30
or
31
(c) in circumstances prescribed by the regulations for the
32
purposes of this paragraph.
33
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Additional hours for part-time employees
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
27
Additional agreed hours to be treated as ordinary hours for certain
1
purposes
2
(4) Except where subsection (3) applies, additional agreed hours are to
3
be treated as ordinary hours of work:
4
(a) for the purposes of paying penalty rates that apply to ordinary
5
hours of work; and
6
(b) for the purposes of sections 87 and 90 (annual leave); and
7
(c) for the purposes of sections 96 and 99 (paid personal/carer's
8
leave); and
9
(d) for the purposes of the definition of
ordinary time earnings
10
in subsection 6(1) of the
Superannuation Guarantee
11
(Administration) Act 1992
; and
12
(e) for any other purposes prescribed by the regulations for the
13
purposes of this paragraph.
14
Other payments not affected
15
(5) Subsection (2) does not prevent any additional amounts, other than
16
overtime, being payable under the identified modern award.
17
Note:
Examples of those additional amounts include penalty rates,
18
incentive-based payments and bonuses, loadings and monetary
19
allowances.
20
168R Terminating a simplified additional hours agreement
21
(1) A simplified additional hours agreement can be terminated:
22
(a) by either the employee, or the employer, giving written
23
notice at least 7 days before the day on which the termination
24
is to take effect; or
25
(b) by the employee and the employer at any time if they agree,
26
in writing, to the termination.
27
Note 1:
Terminating a simplified additional hours agreement, or not doing so,
28
is a workplace right for the purposes of the general protections in
29
Part 3-1 (see section 168T).
30
Note 2:
Also, section 344 prohibits the exertion of undue influence or undue
31
pressure on an employee in relation to a decision by the employee to
32
terminate, or not terminate, a simplified additional hours agreement.
33
Schedule 2
Modern awards
Part 1
Additional hours for part-time employees
28
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(2) The employer must keep a copy of a notice or agreement under
1
subsection (1), and provide a copy to the employee if requested to
2
do so.
3
Subdivision B--Other provisions
4
168S Certain provisions taken to be terms of an identified modern
5
award etc.
6
(1) Each provision in Subdivision A (other than subsections 168M(3)
7
and (4)) is taken to be a term of an identified modern award.
8
Note:
A person must not contravene a term of a modern award (see
9
section 45).
10
(2) The FWC must not vary or revoke a term of an identified modern
11
award mentioned in subsection (1).
12
(3) To avoid doubt:
13
(a) any disputes relating to the interaction between a provision in
14
Subdivision A and another term of an identified modern
15
award; or
16
(b) any disputes arising as a result of the operation of a provision
17
in Subdivision A;
18
may be resolved in accordance with the terms of the identified
19
modern award that provide a procedure for settling disputes about
20
matters arising under the award.
21
Note:
A modern award must include a term that provides a procedure for
22
settling disputes about any matters arising under the award (see
23
section 146).
24
(4) To avoid doubt, Subdivision A will at all times operate subject to
25
Part 2-2 (the National Employment Standards).
26
168T Protection of workplace rights
27
To avoid doubt, the following are workplace rights within the
28
meaning of Part 3-1 (general protections):
29
(a) entering into, or not entering into, a simplified additional
30
hours agreement;
31
(b) terminating, or not terminating, a simplified additional hours
32
agreement.
33
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Additional hours for part-time employees
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
29
Note:
Also, section 344 prohibits the exertion of undue influence or undue
1
pressure on an employee in relation to a decision by the employee to
2
enter into, not enter into, terminate or not terminate a simplified
3
additional hours agreement.
4
6 After paragraph 344(c)
5
Insert:
6
(ca) enter into, or not enter into, a simplified additional hours
7
agreement; or
8
(cb) terminate, or not terminate, a simplified additional hours
9
agreement; or
10
Schedule 2
Modern awards
Part 2
Flexible work directions
30
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Part 2--Flexible work directions
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
7 Before paragraph 136(1)(c)
3
Insert:
4
(bb) Part 6-4D (which deals with terms in relation to duties and
5
location of work for certain employees); or
6
8 After Part 6-4C
7
Insert:
8
Part 6-4D--Flexible work directions
9
Division 1--Introduction
10
789GZC Guide to this Part
11
This Part deems identified modern awards to include terms that
12
allow an employer to give a direction to an employee about:
13
(a)
the duties to be performed by the employee; or
14
(b)
the location of the employee's work.
15
This Part provides that the FWC may deal with disputes arising
16
from the operation of the deemed terms in accordance with existing
17
dispute resolution terms in modern awards.
18
789GZD Application of Part
19
This Part applies in relation to employers and employees to whom
20
an identified modern award applies.
21
Note 1:
For
applies
, in relation to a modern award, see section 47.
22
Note 2:
For the meaning of
identified modern award
, see
23
subsections 168M(3) and (4).
24
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Flexible work directions
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
31
789GZE Definitions
1
In this Part:
2
employee
means a national system employee.
3
Note:
See also Division 2 of Part 6-4A (TCF contract outworkers taken to be
4
employees in certain circumstances).
5
employer
means a national system employer.
6
flexible work direction
means:
7
(a) a flexible work duties direction; or
8
(b) a flexible work location direction.
9
flexible work duties direction
means a direction referred to in
10
section 789GZG.
11
flexible work location direction
means a direction referred to in
12
section 789GZH.
13
licence
includes:
14
(a) registration; and
15
(b) permit.
16
Division 2--Flexible work directions
17
789GZF This Division prevails over inconsistent provision of
18
identified modern award
19
This Division prevails over a provision of an identified modern
20
award to the extent of any inconsistency.
21
789GZG Flexible work duties directions
22
An employer of an employee may give a direction (a
flexible work
23
duties direction
) to the employee to perform any duties during a
24
period that are within the employee's skill and competency if:
25
(a) those duties are safe, having regard to (without limitation) the
26
nature and spread of COVID-19; and
27
Schedule 2
Modern awards
Part 2
Flexible work directions
32
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(b) in a case where the employee was required to have a licence
1
or qualification in order to perform those duties--the
2
employee had the licence or qualification; and
3
(c) those duties are reasonably within the scope of the
4
employer's business operations.
5
789GZH Flexible work location directions
6
An employer of an employee may give a direction (a
flexible work
7
location direction
) to the employee to perform duties during a
8
period at a place that is different from the employee's normal place
9
of work, including the employee's home, if:
10
(a) the place is suitable for the employee's duties; and
11
(b) if the place is not the employee's home--the place does not
12
require the employee to travel a distance that is unreasonable
13
in all the circumstances, including the circumstances
14
surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic; and
15
(c) the performance of the employee's duties at the place is:
16
(i) safe, having regard to (without limitation) the nature
17
and spread of COVID-19; and
18
(ii) reasonably within the scope of the employer's business
19
operations.
20
789GZI Duration of flexible work directions
21
(1) A flexible work direction given by an employer to an employee of
22
the employer continues in effect until:
23
(a) it is withdrawn or revoked by the employer; or
24
(b) it is replaced by a new flexible work direction given by the
25
employer to the employee.
26
(2) Subsection (1) has effect subject to any order made by the FWC in
27
relation to the flexible work direction.
28
(3) A flexible work direction ceases to have effect at the start of the
29
day after the end of the period of 2 years beginning on the day this
30
section commences.
31
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Flexible work directions
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
33
789GZJ Reasonableness
1
A flexible work direction given by an employer to an employee of
2
the employer does not apply to the employee if the direction is
3
unreasonable in all of the circumstances.
4
Note:
A direction may be unreasonable depending on the impact of the
5
direction on any caring responsibilities the employee may have.
6
789GZK Flexible work direction to assist the revival of the
7
enterprise
8
(1) A flexible work direction given by an employer to an employee of
9
the employer has no effect unless the employer has information
10
before the employer that leads the employer to reasonably believe
11
that the direction is a necessary part of a reasonable strategy to
12
assist in the revival of the employer's enterprise.
13
(2) In determining whether a flexible work direction given by an
14
employer to an employee of the employer (the
relevant employee
)
15
is a necessary part of a reasonable strategy to assist in the revival
16
of the employer's enterprise, it is immaterial that a similar flexible
17
work direction could have been given by the employer to an
18
employee of the employer other than the relevant employee.
19
789GZL Consultation
20
(1) A flexible work direction given by an employer to an employee of
21
the employer does not apply to the employee unless:
22
(a) the employer gave the employee written notice of the
23
employer's intention to give the direction; and
24
(b) the employer did so:
25
(i) at least 3 days before the direction was given; or
26
(ii) if the employee genuinely agreed to a lesser notice
27
period--during that lesser notice period; and
28
(c) before giving the direction, the employer consulted the
29
employee (or a representative of the employee) about the
30
direction.
31
Note:
An employee organisation may be a representative of the employee.
32
Schedule 2
Modern awards
Part 2
Flexible work directions
34
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a flexible work direction (the
1
relevant direction
) given by an employer to an employee of the
2
employer if:
3
(a) the employer previously complied with paragraphs (1)(a), (b)
4
and (c) in relation to a proposal to give the employee another
5
flexible work direction; and
6
(b) in the course of consulting the employee (or a representative
7
of the employee) about the proposal, the employee (or the
8
representative of the employee) expressed views to the
9
employer; and
10
(c) the employer considered those views in deciding to give the
11
relevant direction.
12
(3) An employer must keep a written record of a consultation under
13
paragraph (1)(c):
14
(a) with an employee of the employer; or
15
(b) with a representative of an employee of the employer.
16
789GZM Form of direction
17
A flexible work direction must be in writing.
18
789GZN Minimum rate of pay guarantee
19
Minimum rate of pay--duties of work
20
(1) If an employer gives a flexible work duties direction to an
21
employee of the employer, the employer must ensure that the
22
employee's base rate of pay (worked out on an hourly basis) is not
23
less than the greater of the following:
24
(a) the base rate of pay (worked out on an hourly basis) that
25
would have been applicable to the employee if the direction
26
had not been given to the employee;
27
(b) the base rate of pay (worked out on an hourly basis) that is
28
applicable to the duties the employee is performing.
29
Note:
This section guarantees an employee's hourly rate of pay.
Base rate of
30
pay
is defined in section 16 and does not include overtime or penalty
31
rates, monetary allowances or any other separately identifiable
32
amounts. However, monetary allowances, including the payment of
33
monetary allowances in relation to higher duties, must be paid to an
34
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Flexible work directions
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
35
employee in accordance with the obligation to pay amounts payable to
1
the employee under section 323.
2
Base rate of pay for certain payment arrangements
3
(2) If:
4
(a) an employee is paid otherwise than:
5
(i) on an hourly basis; or
6
(ii) by reference to an hourly rate of pay; and
7
(b) an identified modern award applicable to the employee:
8
(i) specifies the employee's base rate of pay for the
9
purposes of the National Employment Standards; or
10
(ii) sets out a method for working out the employee's base
11
rate of pay for the purposes of the National Employment
12
Standards;
13
then, for the purposes of this section, the employee's base rate of
14
pay is:
15
(c) the amount specified in the identified modern award; or
16
(d) the amount worked out using the method set out in the
17
identified modern award;
18
as the case requires.
19
Division 3--Other provisions
20
789GZO Certain provisions taken to be terms of an identified
21
modern award
22
(1) Each provision in Division 2 is taken to be a term of an identified
23
modern award.
24
Note:
A person must not contravene a term of a modern award: see
25
section 45.
26
(2) The FWC may not vary or revoke a term of an identified modern
27
award mentioned in subsection (1).
28
(3) To avoid doubt:
29
(a) any disputes relating to the interaction between a provision in
30
Division 2 and a term of an identified modern award; or
31
(b) any disputes arising as a result of the operation of a provision
32
in Division 2;
33
Schedule 2
Modern awards
Part 2
Flexible work directions
36
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
may be resolved in accordance with the terms of the identified
1
modern award that provide a procedure for dealing with disputes
2
about matters arising under the award.
3
Note:
A modern award must include a term that provides a procedure for
4
settling disputes about any matters arising under the award (see
5
section 146).
6
(4) To avoid doubt, Division 2 will at all times operate subject to
7
Part 2-2 (the National Employment Standards).
8
789GZP Variation of modern award to resolve uncertainty or
9
difficulty relating to flexible work directions
10
(1) Subject to subsection 789GZO(2), the FWC may make a
11
determination varying an identified modern award:
12
(a) to resolve an uncertainty or difficulty relating to the
13
interaction between the provisions of Division 2 and any
14
terms of the identified modern award; or
15
(b) to make the identified modern award operate effectively with
16
those provisions.
17
Note:
The provisions in Division 2 are taken to be terms of each identified
18
modern award. The FWC must not vary or revoke these terms (see
19
subsection 789GZO(2)).
20
(2) The FWC may make the determination:
21
(a) on its own initiative; or
22
(b) on application by an employer, employee, organisation or
23
outworker entity to which the award applies; or
24
(c) on application by an organisation that is entitled to represent
25
the industrial interests of one or more employers or
26
employees to which the award applies.
27
(3) A variation of an identified modern award under this section
28
operates from the day specified in the determination, which may be
29
a day before the determination is made.
30
Modern awards
Schedule 2
Repeal of Part 6-4D of the Fair Work Act 2009
Part 3
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
37
Part 3--Repeal of Part 6-4D of the Fair Work Act 2009
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
9 Paragraph 136(1)(bb)
3
Repeal the paragraph.
4
10 Part 6-4D
5
Repeal the Part.
6
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 1
Objects
38
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Schedule 3--Enterprise agreements etc.
1
Part 1--Objects
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
1 Section 171
4
Repeal the section, substitute:
5
171 Objects of this Part
6
The objects of this Part are:
7
(a) to provide a simple, flexible, fair and balanced framework for
8
employers and employees to agree to terms and conditions of
9
employment, particularly at the enterprise level; and
10
(b) to enable collective bargaining in good faith for enterprise
11
agreements that:
12
(i) deliver productivity benefits; and
13
(ii) enable business and employment growth; and
14
(iii) reflect the needs and priorities of employers and
15
employees; and
16
(c) to enable the FWC to facilitate good faith bargaining and the
17
making of enterprise agreements, including through:
18
(i) making bargaining orders; and
19
(ii) dealing with disputes where the bargaining
20
representatives request assistance; and
21
(iii) ensuring that applications to the FWC for approval of
22
enterprise agreements are dealt with in a timely,
23
practical and transparent manner.
24
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Notice of employee representational rights
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
39
Part 2--Notice of employee representational rights
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
2 Subsection 173(3)
3
Omit "14 days", substitute "28 days".
4
3 After subsection 174(1B)
5
Insert:
6
(1C) The FWC must publish on its website the form prescribed for the
7
purposes of paragraph (1A)(c).
8
4 After paragraph 625(2)(a)
9
Insert:
10
(aa) publishing the form of a notice of employee representational
11
rights under subsection 174(1C);
12
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 3
Pre-approval requirements
40
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Part 3--Pre-approval requirements
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
5 Section 180 (heading)
3
Repeal the heading, substitute:
4
180 Pre-approval requirements
5
6 Subsection 180(1)
6
After "employees", insert "(the
relevant employees
)".
7
7 At the end of subsection 180(1)
8
Add:
9
Note:
For the employees requested to approve the agreement, see paragraphs
10
181(1)(a) and (b).
11
8 Subsections 180(2) and (3)
12
Repeal the subsections, substitute:
13
Employees must be given fair and reasonable opportunity to decide
14
whether or not to approve proposed enterprise agreement
15
(2) The employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that the relevant
16
employees are given a fair and reasonable opportunity to decide
17
whether or not to approve the agreement.
18
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the employer is taken to have
19
complied with that subsection if the employer takes reasonable
20
steps to ensure that:
21
(a) during the access period, the relevant employees have, or
22
have access to, a copy of the following materials:
23
(i) the written text of the agreement;
24
(ii) any other material incorporated by reference in the
25
agreement that is not publicly available; and
26
(b) the relevant employees are notified of the following by the
27
start of the access period:
28
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Pre-approval requirements
Part 3
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
41
(i) the time and place at which the vote will occur;
1
(ii) the voting method that will be used; and
2
(c) the terms of the agreement, and the effect of those terms, are
3
explained to the relevant employees in an appropriate
4
manner, taking into account their particular circumstances
5
and needs.
6
Note:
The following are examples of employees whose circumstances and
7
needs may need to be taken into account:
8
(a) employees from culturally and linguistically diverse
9
backgrounds;
10
(b) young employees;
11
(c) employees who did not have a bargaining representative for the
12
agreement.
13
9 Subsection 180(4)
14
Omit "the start of the voting process referred to in subsection 181(1)",
15
substitute "the day the voting process referred to in subsection 181(1)
16
starts".
17
10 Subsections 180(5) and (6)
18
Repeal the subsections.
19
11 Subparagraph 188(1)(a)(i)
20
Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:
21
(i) subsection 180(2) (which requires employees to be
22
given a fair and reasonable opportunity to decide
23
whether or not to approve an enterprise agreement);
24
12 Paragraph 211(3)(a)
25
Omit "steps", substitute "requirements".
26
13 Paragraph 211(3)(e)
27
Omit "those provisions to the employees employed at the time who will
28
be covered by the proposed enterprise agreement, or the employees
29
covered by the enterprise agreement,", substitute "subsection 186(2)
30
and section 188 to the employees covered by the enterprise agreement".
31
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 4
Voting requirements
42
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Part 4--Voting requirements
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
14 Subsection 181(1)
3
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
4
(1) An employer that will be covered by a proposed enterprise
5
agreement may request the following employees who will be
6
covered by the agreement to approve the agreement by voting for
7
it:
8
(a) the employees employed at the time the request is made,
9
other than as casual employees;
10
(b) the casual employees who performed work at any time
11
during the access period for the agreement.
12
15 Paragraphs 207(1)(a) and (b)
13
Repeal the paragraphs, substitute:
14
(a) if the agreement covers a single employer--the employer and
15
the affected employees for the variation;
16
(b) if the agreement covers 2 or more employers--all of the
17
employers and the affected employees for the variation.
18
16 Subsection 207(2)
19
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
20
(2) The
affected employees
for the variation are the employees who:
21
(a) are covered by the agreement, or will be covered by the
22
agreement if the FWC approves the variation; and
23
(b) are either:
24
(i) employed at the time a request is made under
25
subsection 208(1) in relation to the variation, other than
26
as casual employees; or
27
(ii) casual employees who performed work at any time
28
during the access period for the variation.
29
Note:
For the
access period
for a variation, see subsection 180(4) as that
30
subsection has effect in accordance with subsection 211(3).
31
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Better off overall test
Part 5
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
43
Part 5--Better off overall test
1
Division 1
--Main amendments
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
17 Subsection 186(2) (note 2)
4
After "test", insert "in certain circumstances".
5
18 Paragraph 189(1)(a)
6
Omit "not required to", substitute "satisfied that it cannot".
7
19 After the heading to subsection 189(2)
8
Insert:
9
(1A) The FWC may approve the agreement under this section if the
10
agreement is not a greenfields agreement and the FWC is satisfied
11
that:
12
(a) it is appropriate to do so taking into account all the
13
circumstances, including:
14
(i) the views of the employees, and of the employer or
15
employers, covered by the agreement and of the
16
bargaining representatives for the agreement; and
17
(ii) the circumstances of those employees and employers,
18
and of any employee organisation that has given a
19
notice under subsection 183(1) that the organisation
20
wants the agreement to cover it, including the likely
21
effect that approving or not approving the agreement
22
will have on each of them; and
23
(iii) the impact of the coronavirus known as COVID-19 on
24
the enterprise or enterprises to which the agreement
25
relates; and
26
(iv) the extent of employee support for the agreement as
27
expressed in the outcome of the voting process referred
28
to in subsection 181(1); and
29
(b) because of those circumstances, the approval of the
30
agreement would not be contrary to the public interest.
31
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 5
Better off overall test
44
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
20 Subsection 189(2)
1
After "FWC may" (first occurring), insert "also".
2
21 Subsection 189(2) (note)
3
Repeal the note.
4
22 At the end of subsection 189(3)
5
Add:
6
Note:
The FWC may approve an enterprise agreement under this section
7
with undertakings (see section 190).
8
23 Subsection 190(2)
9
After "186", insert "or 189".
10
24 Subsection 193(2)
11
Repeal the subsection.
12
25 At the end of section 193
13
Add:
14
Relevant and irrelevant matters
15
(8) For the purposes of determining whether an enterprise agreement
16
passes the better off overall test:
17
(a) the FWC may have regard to patterns or kinds of work, or
18
types of employment, only if they are:
19
(i) if the agreement is not a greenfields agreement--
20
engaged in by award covered employees for the
21
agreement; or
22
(ii) in any case--reasonably foreseeable, as at the test time,
23
by the employer or employers covered by the agreement
24
to be engaged in by award covered employees or
25
prospective award covered employees for the
26
agreement; and
27
(b) the other matters the FWC may have regard to include the
28
overall benefits (including non-monetary benefits) an award
29
covered employee or prospective award covered employee
30
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Better off overall test
Part 5
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
45
would receive under the agreement when compared to the
1
relevant modern award; and
2
(c) the FWC must give significant weight to any views relating
3
to whether the agreement passes the better off overall test
4
that have been expressed by:
5
(i) the employer or employers that are covered by the
6
agreement; or
7
(ii) if the agreement is not a greenfields agreement--the
8
award covered employees for the agreement; or
9
(iii) in any case--a bargaining representative for the
10
agreement; and
11
(d) if both of the following apply:
12
(i) the agreement is not a greenfields agreement;
13
(ii) an individual flexibility arrangement has been agreed to
14
by an award covered employee and his or her employer
15
under the flexibility term in the relevant modern award;
16
the FWC must disregard the individual flexibility
17
arrangement.
18
Example: For subparagraph (c)(ii)--the views of the award covered employees
19
as expressed in the outcome of the voting process referred to in
20
subsection 181(1).
21
26 Subsection 211(4)
22
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
23
(4) Section 193 (which deals with passing the better off overall test)
24
has effect as if:
25
(a) for a greenfields agreement--the agreement were an
26
enterprise agreement that is not a greenfields agreement; and
27
(b) in any case:
28
(i) the words "the agreement" in subsection (6) were
29
omitted and the words "the variation of the enterprise
30
agreement" were substituted; and
31
(ii) the reference in subsection (6) to subsection 182(4) or
32
section 185 were a reference to section 210; and
33
(iii) the reference in subparagraph (8)(c)(iii) to a bargaining
34
representative for the agreement were a reference to an
35
employee organisation that is covered by the agreement.
36
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 5
Better off overall test
46
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Note:
One effect of paragraph (a) is that subsection 193(1) applies for the
1
purposes of determining whether an enterprise agreement as proposed
2
to be varied passes the better off overall test, whether or not the
3
agreement is a greenfields agreement.
4
Division 2
--Sunsetting of additional power to approve
5
enterprise agreements that do not pass the
6
better off overall test
7
Fair Work Act 2009
8
27 Subsection 186(2) (note 2)
9
Omit "in certain circumstances".
10
28 Subsection 189(1A)
11
Repeal the subsection (not including the heading).
12
29 Subsection 189(2)
13
Omit "FWC may also", substitute "FWC may".
14
30 At the end of subsection 189(2)
15
Add:
16
Note:
The FWC may approve an enterprise agreement under this section
17
with undertakings (see section 190).
18
31 Subsection 189(3) (note)
19
Repeal the note.
20
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
NES interaction terms
Part 6
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
47
Part 6--NES interaction terms
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
32 Section 12
3
Insert:
4
model NES interaction term
: see subsection 205A(3).
5
33 Subsection 55(7) (note)
6
Repeal the note.
7
34 Section
169 (paragraph beginning "Division 5")
8
Omit "and consultation requirements", substitute ", consultation
9
requirements and explaining the interaction with the National
10
Employment Standards".
11
35 Subsection 186(2) (heading)
12
Repeal the heading, substitute:
13
Requirements relating to genuine agreement and passing the better
14
off overall test
15
36 Paragraph 186(2)(c)
16
Repeal the paragraph.
17
37 Subsection 186(2) (note 3)
18
Repeal the note.
19
38 Paragraph 201(1)(b)
20
Omit "either or both", substitute "one or more".
21
39 At the end of paragraph 201(1)(b)
22
Add:
23
(iii) the model NES interaction term is taken, under
24
subsection 205A(2), to be a term of the agreement;
25
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 6
NES interaction terms
48
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
40 Before section 202
1
Insert:
2
Subdivision A--Flexibility terms
3
41 Before section 205
4
Insert:
5
Subdivision B--Consultation terms
6
42 At the end of Division 5 of Part 2-4
7
Add:
8
Subdivision C--NES interaction terms
9
205A Enterprise agreements to include model NES interaction term
10
(1) An enterprise agreement must include the model NES interaction
11
term.
12
(2) If an enterprise agreement does not include the model NES
13
interaction term, the model NES interaction term is taken to be a
14
term of the agreement.
15
(3) The regulations must prescribe a model term (the
model NES
16
interaction term
) for enterprise agreements that explains the
17
provisions of this Act that deal with the interaction between the
18
National Employment Standards and enterprise agreements.
19
43 Paragraph 211(3)(ha)
20
Omit "references in paragraphs 186(2)(c) and (d) to the agreement were
21
references", substitute "the reference in paragraph 186(2)(d) to the
22
agreement were a reference".
23
44 Subsection 272(5)
24
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
25
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
NES interaction terms
Part 6
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
49
Approval requirements relating to particular kinds of employees
1
(5) The determination must not include a term that would, if the
2
determination were an enterprise agreement, mean that the FWC
3
could not approve the agreement because of the operation of
4
Subdivision E of Division 4 of Part 2-4 (which deals with approval
5
requirements relating to particular kinds of employees).
6
45 At the end of section 273
7
Add:
8
Model NES interaction term
9
(6) The determination must include the model NES interaction term.
10
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 7
Variation of single enterprise agreements to cover eligible franchisee employers
and their employees
50
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Part 7--Variation of single enterprise agreements to
1
cover eligible franchisee employers and
2
their employees
3
Fair Work Act 2009
4
46 Section 12 (definition of
affected employees
)
5
Repeal the definition, substitute:
6
affected employees
:
7
(a) for a variation of an enterprise agreement under Subdivision
8
A of Division 7 of Part 2-4: see subsection 207(2); and
9
(b) for a variation of an enterprise agreement under Subdivision
10
AA of Division 7 of Part 2-4: see subsection 216A(4).
11
47 Section 12 (definition of
agreed to
)
12
Repeal the definition, substitute:
13
agreed to
:
14
(a) in relation to an application to vary a single-enterprise
15
agreement under Subdivision AA of Division 7 of Part 2-4:
16
see subsection 216A(7); and
17
(b) in relation to a termination of an enterprise agreement: see
18
section 221.
19
48 Section 12
20
Insert:
21
eligible franchisee employer
for a single-enterprise agreement: see
22
subsection 216A(2).
23
49 At the end of section 58
24
Add:
25
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Variation of single enterprise agreements to cover eligible franchisee employers and
their employees
Part 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
51
Special rule--variation of single-enterprise agreement to cover
1
employee
2
(4) If:
3
(a) an enterprise agreement (the
earlier agreement
) applies to an
4
employee in relation to particular employment; and
5
(b) a single-enterprise agreement that is in operation is varied
6
under Subdivision AA of Division 7 of Part 2-4 to cover the
7
employee in relation to the same employment;
8
the earlier agreement ceases to apply to the employee in relation to
9
that employment when the variation comes into operation, and can
10
never so apply again.
11
50 Subdivision A of Division 7 of Part 2-4 (at the end of the
12
heading)
13
Add "
covered by those agreements
".
14
51 After Subdivision A of Division 7 of Part 2-4
15
Insert:
16
Subdivision AA--Variation of single-enterprise agreements to
17
cover eligible franchisee employers and their
18
employees
19
216A Eligible franchisee employer may request employees to
20
approve application for FWC to vary single-enterprise
21
agreement to cover them
22
Requesting employees to approve proposed application for FWC to
23
vary agreement
24
(1) An eligible franchisee employer for a single-enterprise agreement
25
may request the employees mentioned in subsection (3) to approve
26
a proposed application by the employer for the FWC to vary the
27
agreement, so that it covers the employer and employees specified
28
in the proposed application, by voting for the proposed application.
29
Note:
For when an application to vary a single-enterprise agreement is
30
agreed to
, see subsection (7).
31
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 7
Variation of single enterprise agreements to cover eligible franchisee employers
and their employees
52
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Meaning of
eligible franchisee employer
1
(2) An employer is an
eligible
franchisee employer
for a
2
single-enterprise agreement if:
3
(a) the agreement does not cover the employer, but covers 2 or
4
more other employers that are single interest employers; and
5
(b) the employer carries on similar business activities under the
6
same franchise as the other employers; and
7
(c) the employer and the other employers are:
8
(i) franchisees of the same franchisor; or
9
(ii) related bodies corporate of the same franchisor; or
10
(iii) any combination of the above.
11
Employees who may be requested to approve proposed application
12
(3) The employees who may be requested to approve the proposed
13
application are the following employees, of the eligible franchisee
14
employer, who will be covered by the agreement if the FWC
15
makes the variation:
16
(a) the employees employed at the time the request is made,
17
other than as casual employees;
18
(b) the casual employees who performed work at any time
19
during the 7-day period ending immediately before the day
20
the voting process referred to in subsection (1) starts.
21
Affected employees
for the variation
22
(4) The employees referred to in paragraphs (3)(a) and (b) are the
23
affected employees
for the variation.
24
Method of voting
25
(5) Without limiting subsection (1), the eligible franchisee employer
26
may request that the affected employees vote by ballot or by an
27
electronic method.
28
Steps that must be taken before making request
29
(6) Before making a request under subsection (1), the eligible
30
franchisee employer must:
31
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Variation of single enterprise agreements to cover eligible franchisee employers and
their employees
Part 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
53
(a) take reasonable steps to notify the affected employees of the
1
following:
2
(i) the time and place at which the vote will occur;
3
(ii) the voting method that will be used;
4
(iii) the employees who will be covered by the agreement if
5
the FWC makes the variation; and
6
(b) take reasonable steps to ensure that the affected employees
7
are given a fair and reasonable opportunity to decide whether
8
they want to approve the proposed application.
9
When the application is
agreed to
10
(7) The application is
agreed to
when a majority of the affected
11
employees who cast a valid vote approve the application.
12
216B Application for the FWC to vary single-enterprise agreement
13
to cover eligible franchisee employer and employees
14
Application to vary agreement
15
(1) If an application to vary a single-enterprise agreement has been
16
agreed to under subsection 216A(7), the eligible franchisee
17
employer must apply to the FWC to vary the agreement so as to
18
cover the employer and the employees specified in the application.
19
Material to accompany the application
20
(2) The application must be accompanied by any declarations that are
21
required by the procedural rules to accompany the application.
22
When the application must be made
23
(3) The application must be made:
24
(a) within 14 days after the application is agreed to; or
25
(b) if in all the circumstances the FWC considers it fair to extend
26
that period--within such further period as the FWC allows.
27
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 7
Variation of single enterprise agreements to cover eligible franchisee employers
and their employees
54
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
216C When the FWC must vary a single-enterprise agreement to
1
cover eligible franchisee employer and employees
2
If an application to vary a single-enterprise agreement is made
3
under subsection 216B(1), the FWC must vary the agreement, so as
4
to cover the eligible franchisee employer and the employees
5
specified in the application, if the FWC is satisfied that:
6
(a)
the agreement has not passed its nominal expiry date; and
7
(b) no person coerced, or threatened to coerce, the eligible
8
franchisee employer to request the affected employees to
9
approve the application under subsection 216A(1); and
10
(c) the eligible franchisee employer
complied with
11
subsection 216A(6) (which deals with giving affected
12
employees a fair and
reasonable opportunity to decide etc.) in
13
relation to the application; and
14
(d) the application was agreed to in accordance with
15
subsection 216A(7) (which deals with agreement to the
16
application by employee vote); and
17
(e) there are no other reasonable grounds for believing that the
18
affected employees for the variation have not agreed to the
19
application;
20
unless the FWC is satisfied that there are serious public interest
21
grounds for not varying the agreement.
22
216D When variation comes into operation
23
If the FWC varies a single-enterprise agreement under
24
section 216C, the variation operates from the day specified in the
25
decision to vary the agreement.
26
216E Varied agreement remains a single-enterprise agreement
27
A single-enterprise agreement that is varied under this Subdivision
28
remains a single enterprise agreement, despite the variation.
29
52 After subsection 278(1)
30
Insert:
31
(1A) If:
32
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Variation of single enterprise agreements to cover eligible franchisee employers and
their employees
Part 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
55
(a) a workplace determination applies to an employee in relation
1
to particular employment; and
2
(b) a single-enterprise agreement that is in operation is varied
3
under Subdivision AA of Division 7 of Part 2-4 to cover the
4
employee in relation to the same employment;
5
the determination ceases to apply to the employee in relation to
6
that employment when the variation comes into operation, and can
7
never so apply again.
8
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 8
Terminating agreements after nominal expiry date
56
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Part 8--Terminating agreements after nominal expiry
1
date
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
53 Section 225
4
Omit "If an enterprise agreement has passed its nominal expiry date,
5
any of the following may apply to the FWC for the termination of the
6
agreement", substitute "Any of the following may apply to the FWC for
7
the termination of an enterprise agreement if at least 3 months have
8
elapsed since the agreement passed its nominal expiry date".
9
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
How the FWC may inform itself
Part 9
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
57
Part 9--How the FWC may inform itself
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
54 After section 254
3
Insert:
4
254AA How FWC may inform itself
5
(1) This section applies in relation to:
6
(a) an application made under subsection 182(4) or section 185
7
to approve an enterprise agreement; and
8
(b) an application made under subsection 210(1) to approve a
9
variation of an enterprise agreement.
10
(2) The FWC may inform itself in relation to the application only on
11
the basis of the following, unless the FWC is satisfied that there are
12
exceptional circumstances:
13
(a) information that is publicly available;
14
(b) submissions made by a body under section 254A (entitlement
15
for volunteer bodies to make submissions);
16
(c) submissions, evidence or other information provided by or
17
requested from:
18
(i) the applicant; or
19
(ii) the employer or employers covered by the agreement; or
20
(iii) an employee covered by the agreement; or
21
(iv) if paragraph (1)(a) applies--a bargaining representative
22
for the agreement; or
23
(v) if paragraph (1)(b) applies--an employee who will be
24
covered by the agreement if the FWC approves the
25
variation; or
26
(vi) if paragraph (1)(b) applies--an employee organisation
27
covered by the agreement; or
28
(vii) in any case--the Minister or a Minister of a State or
29
Territory who has responsibility for workplace relations
30
matters.
31
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 9
How the FWC may inform itself
58
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
55 At the end of subsection 590(1)
1
Add:
2
Note:
For a provision that provides otherwise, see section 254AA (which
3
deals with how the FWC may inform itself in relation to certain
4
enterprise agreement applications).
5
56 At the end of subsection 625(1)
6
Add:
7
Note:
For paragraph (b), the FWC's power under section 590 to inform itself
8
as it considers appropriate operates subject to other provisions of this
9
Act, such as section 254AA (which deals with how the FWC may
10
inform itself in relation to certain enterprise agreement applications).
11
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Time limits for determining certain applications
Part 10
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
59
Part 10--Time limits for determining certain
1
applications
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
57 After section 255
4
Insert:
5
255AA Certain applications to be determined within 21 days
6
(1) The FWC must, as far as practicable, determine:
7
(a) an application made under subsection 182(4) or section 185
8
to approve an enterprise agreement; or
9
(b) an application made under subsection 210(1) to approve a
10
variation of an enterprise agreement;
11
within 21 working days (the
decision period
) after the application
12
is made.
13
(2) If the FWC does not determine the application before the end of
14
the decision period, the FWC must, as soon as practicable, give
15
written notice to the following setting out why the FWC was
16
unable to determine the application during that period, including
17
whether any exceptional circumstances exist:
18
(a) each employer covered by the agreement;
19
(b) for an application mentioned in paragraph (1)(a):
20
(i) if the agreement is a greenfields agreement--each
21
relevant employee organisation that the agreement is
22
expressed to cover;
23
(ii) if the agreement is not a greenfields agreement--each
24
employee organisation that has given a notice under
25
subsection 183(1) that the organisation wants the
26
agreement to cover it;
27
(c) for an application mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)--each
28
employee organisation covered by the agreement;
29
(d) in any case--the applicant, if the applicant is not covered by
30
any of the preceding paragraphs.
31
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 10
Time limits for determining certain applications
60
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(3) The FWC must publish a notice that it gives under subsection (2)
1
on its website or by any other means that the FWC considers
2
appropriate.
3
58 Before paragraph 625(2)(b)
4
Insert:
5
(ab) publishing, under subsection 255AA(3), notices setting out
6
why the FWC has not been able to determine an application
7
under subsection 182(4), section 185 or subsection 210(1)
8
within 21 working days;
9
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
FWC functions
Part 11
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
61
Part 11--FWC functions
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
59 After section 254A
3
Insert:
4
254B FWC to recognise outcome of bargaining at enterprise level
5
The FWC must perform its functions and exercise its powers under
6
this Part in a manner that recognises the outcome of bargaining at
7
the enterprise level.
8
Note:
For other matters the FWC must take into account, see section 578.
9
60 At the end of section 578
10
Add:
11
Note:
For when the FWC is performing functions or exercising powers in
12
relation to a matter under Part 2-4 (enterprise agreements), see also
13
section 254B (recognising outcome of bargaining at enterprise level).
14
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 12
Transfer of business
62
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Part 12--Transfer of business
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
61 Section 12 (paragraph (a) of the definition of
transfer of
3
business
)
4
Omit "subsection 311(1)", substitute "subsections 311(1) and (1A)".
5
62 After subsection 311(1)
6
Insert:
7
(1A) However, there is not a
transfer of business
if:
8
(a) the new employer is an associated entity of the old employer
9
when the employee becomes employed by the new employer;
10
and
11
(b) before the termination of the employee's employment with
12
the old employer, the employee sought to become employed
13
by the new employer at the employee's initiative.
14
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Cessation of instruments
Part 13
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
63
Part 13--Cessation of instruments
1
Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential
2
Amendments) Act 2009
3
63 Item 20 of Schedule 3 (heading)
4
Repeal the heading, substitute:
5
20 Initial sunsetting rules for particular transitional
6
instruments
7
64 After item 20 of Schedule 3
8
Insert:
9
20A Automatic sunsetting of all remaining agreement-based
10
transitional instruments on 1 July 2022
11
An agreement-based transitional instrument that has not terminated
12
before 1 July 2022 terminates on that day.
13
65 After item 26 of Schedule 3A
14
Insert:
15
26A Automatic sunsetting of all remaining Division 2B State
16
employment agreements on 1 July 2022
17
A Division 2B State employment agreement that has not terminated
18
before 1 July 2022 terminates on that day.
19
66 At the end of Part 3 of Schedule 7
20
Add:
21
Schedule 3
Enterprise agreements etc.
Part 13
Cessation of instruments
64
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Division 5
--Sunsetting of enterprise agreements made
1
during the bridging period
2
17A Automatic sunsetting of all remaining enterprise
3
agreements made during the bridging period on 1 July
4
2022
5
(1)
An enterprise agreement made during the bridging period that has not
6
ceased to operate before 1 July 2022 in accordance with
7
subsection 54(2) of the FW Act ceases to operate on that day.
8
(2)
If an enterprise agreement ceases to operate in accordance with
9
subitem (1), that does not affect:
10
(a) any right or liability that a person acquired, accrued or
11
incurred before the enterprise agreement ceased to operate; or
12
(b) any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of
13
any such right or liability.
14
(3)
Any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted,
15
continued or enforced as if the enterprise agreement had not ceased to
16
operate.
17
(4)
This item has effect subject to a contrary intention in this Act or in the
18
FW Act.
19
67 At the end of Part 5 of Schedule 7
20
Add:
21
26A Automatic sunsetting of all remaining workplace
22
determinations made during the bridging period on
23
1 July 2022
24
(1)
A workplace determination made during the bridging period that has
25
not ceased to operate before 1 July 2022 in accordance with
26
subsection 276(2) of the FW Act ceases to operate on that day.
27
(2)
If a workplace determination ceases to operate in accordance with
28
subitem (1), that does not affect:
29
(a) any right or liability that a person acquired, accrued or
30
incurred before the workplace determination ceased to
31
operate; or
32
Enterprise agreements etc.
Schedule 3
Cessation of instruments
Part 13
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
65
(b) any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of
1
any such right or liability.
2
(3)
Any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted,
3
continued or enforced as if the workplace determination had not ceased
4
to operate.
5
(4)
This item has effect subject to a contrary intention in this Act or in the
6
FW Act.
7
Schedule 4
Greenfields agreements
66
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Schedule 4--Greenfields agreements
1
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
1 Section 12
4
Insert:
5
major project
: see section 23B.
6
responsible Minister
means the Minister who is prescribed by the
7
regulations for the purposes of this definition.
8
2 At the end of Division 4 of Part 1-2
9
Add:
10
23B Meaning of
major project
11
(1) A project is a
major project
if:
12
(a) the total expenditure of a capital nature that has been
13
incurred, or is reasonably likely to be incurred, in carrying
14
out the project is at least $500 million; or
15
(b) a declaration is made under subsection (2) that the project is
16
a major project for the purposes of this paragraph.
17
(2) The responsible Minister may, by legislative instrument, declare
18
that a project is a major project for the purposes of
19
paragraph (1)(b).
20
(3) The responsible Minister must not make a declaration under
21
subsection (2) in relation to a project unless the responsible
22
Minister is satisfied that the total expenditure of a capital nature
23
that has been incurred, or is reasonably likely to be incurred, in
24
carrying out the project is at least $250 million but less than $500
25
million.
26
(4) In deciding whether or not to make a declaration under
27
subsection (2) in relation to a project, the responsible Minister
28
must take into account the following matters:
29
(a) the national significance (if any) of the project;
30
Greenfields agreements
Schedule 4
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
67
(b) the regional significance (if any) of the project;
1
(c) the contribution the project is expected to make to job
2
creation;
3
(d) any other matter the responsible Minister considers relevant.
4
(5) A declaration made under subsection (2) is a legislative instrument,
5
but section 42 (disallowance) of the
Legislation Act 2003
does not
6
apply to the declaration.
7
3 Paragraph 186(5)(b)
8
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
9
(b) the date will not be more than:
10
(i) if the agreement is a greenfields agreement and the
11
FWC is satisfied that the work to be performed under
12
the agreement relates only to the construction of a major
13
project--8 years after the day the agreement will come
14
into operation; or
15
(ii) otherwise--4 years after the day on which the FWC
16
approves the agreement.
17
Note:
See subsection 54(1) for when an enterprise agreement comes into
18
operation.
19
4 At the end of section 187 (after the note)
20
Add:
21
(7) If:
22
(a) the agreement is a greenfields agreement; and
23
(b) the FWC is satisfied that the work to be performed under the
24
agreement relates only to the construction of a major project;
25
and
26
(c) the FWC is satisfied that the date specified in the agreement
27
as its nominal expiry date will be more than 4 years after the
28
day on which the FWC approves the agreement;
29
the FWC must be satisfied that the agreement includes a term that
30
provides for at least an annual increase of the base rate of pay
31
payable to each employee who will be covered by the agreement to
32
occur on or before each day that is the anniversary of the day on
33
which the agreement comes into operation and that occurs before
34
the nominal expiry date of the agreement.
35
Schedule 4
Greenfields agreements
68
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
5 Paragraph 211(1)(b)
1
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
2
(b) the FWC is satisfied that the agreement as proposed to be
3
varied would not specify a date as its nominal expiry date
4
which is more than:
5
(i) if subparagraph 186(5)(b)(i) applied in relation to the
6
approval of the agreement--8 years after the day on
7
which the agreement came into operation; or
8
(ii) otherwise--4 years after the day on which the FWC
9
approved the agreement;
10
6 Subsection 211(1) (note)
11
Omit "Note", substitute "Note 1".
12
7 At the end of 211(1)
13
Add:
14
Note 2:
See subsection 54(1) for when an enterprise agreement comes into
15
operation.
16
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Orders relating to civil remedy provisions
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
69
Schedule 5--Compliance and enforcement
1
Part 1--Orders relating to civil remedy provisions
2
Division 1
--Main amendments
3
Fair Work Act 2009
4
1 Section 12
5
Insert:
6
remuneration-related contravention
means:
7
(a) a contravention of a civil remedy provision mentioned in
8
item 8, 9, 10 or 10A of the table in subsection 539(2); or
9
(b) a contravention of a civil remedy provision mentioned in
10
item 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 of the table in subsection 539(2) that
11
relates to:
12
(i) the underpayment of wages, or other monetary
13
entitlements, of employees; or
14
(ii) the unreasonable deduction of amounts from amounts
15
owed to employees; or
16
(iii) the placing of unreasonable requirements on employees
17
to spend or pay amounts paid, or payable, to employees;
18
or
19
(iv) the method or frequency of amounts payable to
20
employees in relation to the performance of work.
21
value of the benefit
of a remuneration-related contravention: see
22
section 546A.
23
2 Subsection 539(2) (after note 3)
24
Insert:
25
Note 3A: Maximum penalties for contraventions of civil remedy provisions are
26
greater if the contravention is by a body corporate. Maximum
27
penalties may be affected if the contravention is a
28
remuneration-related contravention (see subsection 546(2)).
29
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 1
Orders relating to civil remedy provisions
70
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
3 At the end of subsection 545(2)
1
Add:
2
; (d) an adverse publicity order.
3
4 Subsections 546(2) and (3)
4
Repeal the subsections, substitute:
5
Determining amount of pecuniary penalty
6
(2) The pecuniary penalty must not be more than the amount
7
determined in accordance with the following table.
8
9
Determining amount of pecuniary penalty
Item Column 1
If ...
Column 2
the pecuniary penalty must not be
more than ...
1
the person is an individual and item 3
of this table does not apply
the maximum number of penalty units
referred to in the relevant item in
column 4 of the table in
subsection 539(2) for the kind of
contravention committed.
2
the person is a body corporate and
item 4, 5 or 6 of this table does not
apply
5 times the maximum number of
penalty units referred to in the relevant
item in column 4 of the table in
subsection 539(2) for the kind of
contravention committed.
3
(a) the person is an individual; and
(b) the contravention is a
remuneration-related contravention
but not a serious contravention
1.5 times the maximum number of
penalty units referred to in the relevant
item in column 4 of the table in
subsection 539(2) for a contravention
that is not a serious contravention.
4
(a) the person is a body corporate; and
(b) the contravention is a
remuneration-related contravention
but not a serious contravention;
and
(c) the body corporate was a small
business employer when the
application for the order was made
7.5 times the maximum number of
penalty units referred to in the relevant
item in column 4 of the table in
subsection 539(2) for a contravention
that is not a serious contravention.
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Orders relating to civil remedy provisions
Part 1
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
71
Determining amount of pecuniary penalty
Item Column 1
If ...
Column 2
the pecuniary penalty must not be
more than ...
5
(a) the person is a body corporate; and
(b) the contravention is a
remuneration-related contravention
but not a serious contravention;
and
(c) the body corporate was not a small
business employer when the
application for the order was made
the greater of the following:
(a) 7.5 times the maximum number of
penalty units referred to in the
relevant item in column 4 of the
table in subsection 539(2) for a
contravention that is not a serious
contravention;
(b) if the court can determine the value
of the benefit of the
contravention--2 times the value
of the benefit.
6
(a) the person is a body corporate; and
(b) the contravention is both a
remuneration-related contravention
and a serious contravention; and
(c) the body corporate was not a small
business employer when the
application for the order was made
the greater of the following:
(a) 5 times the maximum number of
penalty units referred to in the
relevant item in column 4 of the
table in subsection 539(2)
for a
serious contravention;
(b) if the court can determine the value
of the benefit of the
contravention--3 times the value
of the benefit.
Note:
See section 546A for determining the value of the benefit of a
1
remuneration-related contravention.
2
Payment of penalty
3
(3) Subject to subsection (3A), the court may order that the pecuniary
4
penalty, or a part of the penalty, be paid to:
5
(a) the Commonwealth; or
6
(b) a particular organisation; or
7
(c) a particular person.
8
(3A) If a pecuniary penalty for the purposes of item 5 or 6 of the table in
9
subsection (2) is based on the value of the benefit of the
10
contravention, the court may only order the pecuniary penalty be
11
paid to the Commonwealth.
12
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 1
Orders relating to civil remedy provisions
72
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
5 After section 546
1
Insert:
2
546A Value of the benefit of a remuneration-related contravention
3
(1) The
value of the benefit
that a body corporate obtains from a
4
remuneration-related contravention is the amount of remuneration
5
that employees of the body corporate would have received,
6
retained or been entitled to if the contravention had not occurred.
7
(2) In determining the value of the benefit, a particular amount must
8
not be taken into account in relation to more than one
9
contravention by the body corporate.
10
(3) To avoid doubt, if the contravention is comprised of 2 or more
11
contraventions that are taken to be a single contravention because
12
of section 557, the value of the benefit of the contravention is the
13
total value of the benefits of each of the contraventions comprising
14
that single contravention.
15
Division 2
--Consequential amendments
16
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity)
17
Act 2016
18
6 Paragraph 49(c)
19
Omit "paragraph 546(2)(b)", substitute "item 2 of the table in
20
subsection 546(2)".
21
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Small claims procedure
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
73
Part 2--Small claims procedure
1
Division 1
--Main amendments
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
7 Section 12
4
Insert:
5
small claims proceedings
means proceedings dealt with as small
6
claims proceedings under section 548.
7
8 Paragraph 548(2)(a)
8
Omit "$20,000", substitute "$50,000".
9
9 At the end of section 548
10
Add:
11
Costs for filing fees paid in relation to the proceedings
12
(10) If the court makes an order (the
small claims order
) mentioned in
13
subsection (1) against a party to small claims proceedings, the
14
court may make an order as to costs against the party for any filing
15
fees paid to the court by the party that applied for the small claims
16
order.
17
(11) Subsection (10) applies despite section 570.
18
10 After section 548
19
Insert:
20
548A Court must consider conciliation in small claims proceedings
21
As soon as practicable after small claims proceedings commence,
22
the court must consider whether it is appropriate to make an order
23
under section 548B to refer any matter in dispute in the
24
proceedings for conciliation by the FWC.
25
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 2
Small claims procedure
74
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Note:
Sections 22 and 23 of the
Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999
1
set out requirements for the Federal Circuit Court in relation to
2
advising parties to proceedings about the use of dispute resolution
3
processes.
4
548B Court may refer small claims proceedings for conciliation
5
Order referring small claims proceedings to conciliation
6
(1) In small claims proceedings, the court may, by order, refer any
7
matter in dispute in the proceedings for conciliation by the FWC if
8
the court considers it appropriate to do so.
9
Note:
Parties to small claims proceedings may agree to arbitration by the
10
FWC if the conciliation ends without resolution (see section 548D).
11
(2) The court may make the order:
12
(a) on its own initiative; or
13
(b) on application by a party to the proceedings.
14
(3) In determining whether to make the order, the court must consider
15
the following:
16
(a) the stage the proceedings have reached since the
17
commencement of the proceedings;
18
(b) the complexity of the matters in dispute, including questions
19
of law that might arise;
20
(c) whether conciliation would be effective in resolving the
21
matters in dispute in the proceedings.
22
(4) Subsection (3) does not limit the matters the court may consider.
23
Notification to the FWC of order
24
(5) If the order is made, the court must notify the FWC of the order as
25
soon as possible.
26
Other orders if small claims proceedings referred to conciliation
27
(6) If the order is made, the court may make:
28
(a) another order requiring any specified information given in
29
the proceedings to be provided to the FWC for the purposes
30
of the conciliation; and
31
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Small claims procedure
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
75
(b) any other order in relation to the proceedings while the
1
conciliation is occurring.
2
Other powers to make orders not affected
3
(7) This section does not affect any other power a court may have to
4
refer a matter in dispute in the proceedings to conciliation,
5
mediation or any other form of dispute resolution.
6
548C Conciliation by FWC
7
(1) If a matter in dispute in small claims proceedings is referred under
8
section 548B, the FWC must deal with the matter by conciliation.
9
Note:
The parties to the proceedings bear their own costs in relation to the
10
conciliation before the FWC (see section 611). However, a court may
11
order costs against a party that unreasonably refuses to participate in a
12
matter before the FWC (see paragraph 570(2)(c)).
13
Conduct of conciliation
14
(2) The procedural rules may make provision for or in relation to the
15
conduct of the conciliation.
16
(3) Any conference conducted for the purposes of the conciliation
17
must be conducted in private, despite subsection 592(3).
18
Note:
For conduct of conferences, see section 592.
19
(4) Despite paragraphs 592(4)(a) and 595(2)(a), the FWC may only
20
conciliate the matter.
21
End of conciliation
22
(5) The FWC may end the conciliation if:
23
(a) the parties to the proceedings make a joint application to the
24
FWC to end the conciliation; or
25
(b) the FWC is satisfied the matter is resolved; or
26
(c) the FWC is satisfied that all reasonable attempts to resolve
27
the matter by conciliation have been, or are likely to be,
28
unsuccessful.
29
Note:
The parties could apply to the court for consent orders following
30
conciliation (see, for example, section 32 (consent orders) of the
31
Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999
).
32
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 2
Small claims procedure
76
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(6) If the court in the proceedings makes an order ending the
1
conciliation, the FWC must end the conciliation.
2
(7) If the FWC ends the conciliation under subsection (5), the FWC
3
must issue a certificate to that effect to the parties and the court in
4
the proceedings.
5
(8) If:
6
(a) the FWC ends the conciliation because of paragraph (5)(c);
7
and
8
(b) the FWC considers, taking into account all the materials
9
before it, a party to the proceedings has no reasonable
10
prospects of success in relation to the matter;
11
the FWC must advise the parties accordingly.
12
FWC must not facilitate an outcome inconsistent with this Act etc.
13
(9) The FWC must not facilitate an outcome as part of the conciliation
14
that would be inconsistent with this Act, or a fair work instrument
15
that applies to the parties to the proceedings.
16
548D Arbitration by FWC
17
Circumstances in which FWC may arbitrate matters in dispute in
18
small claims proceedings
19
(1) The FWC may deal with a matter in dispute in small claims
20
proceedings by arbitration if:
21
(a) the matter is referred under section 548B for conciliation by
22
the FWC; and
23
(b) the FWC issues a certificate under subsection 548C(7) at the
24
end of the conciliation; and
25
(c) the parties to the proceedings notify the FWC that the parties
26
agree to the FWC arbitrating the matter; and
27
(d) the notification:
28
(i) is given to the FWC within 14 days after the day the
29
certificate is issued, or within such period as the FWC
30
allows on an application made during or after those 14
31
days; and
32
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Small claims procedure
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
77
(ii) complies with any requirements prescribed by the
1
procedural rules.
2
(2) If the FWC is so notified, the FWC must notify the court in the
3
proceedings whether the FWC is arbitrating the matter.
4
Order awarding small claims amount
5
(3) If the FWC arbitrates the matter, the FWC may make an order
6
awarding one or more of the following:
7
(a) an amount that relates to an amount (the
disputed amount
)
8
referred to in subsection 548(1A);
9
(b) any interest that a court could have included under
10
section 547 if the court had made the order;
11
(c) any filing fees paid to the court by the party that applied for
12
an order under Division 2 that related to the disputed amount.
13
(4) The order may permit the amount to be paid in instalments
14
specified in the order.
15
(5) An amount awarded in relation to the disputed amount must not be
16
more than the amount that may be awarded by a court under
17
subsection 548(2).
18
(6) Despite subsection 595(3), the FWC must not make any orders in
19
the arbitration to resolve the matter other than an order under
20
subsection (3).
21
FWC must not make an order or facilitate an outcome inconsistent
22
with this Act etc.
23
(7) The FWC must not make an order, or facilitate an outcome, as part
24
of the arbitration that would be inconsistent with this Act, or a fair
25
work instrument that applies to the parties to the proceedings.
26
Appeals under section 604
27
(8) To avoid doubt, section 604 (appeal of decisions) applies in
28
relation to an order made under this section.
29
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 2
Small claims procedure
78
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
548E Court may make order in terms of arbitration order
1
(1) This section applies if the FWC makes an order (the
arbitration
2
order
) under subsection 548D(3) to deal with a matter in dispute in
3
small claims proceedings.
4
(2) On application by a party to the proceedings, the court in the
5
proceedings may make an order (the
enforcement order
) in terms
6
of the arbitration order.
7
Note:
The court could also use other available powers to enforce the
8
arbitration order (see, for example, section 38 (arbitration awards) of
9
the
Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999
).
10
(3) The court in the proceedings may make the enforcement order
11
whether or not the proceedings were discontinued.
12
(4) The court in the proceedings must not make the enforcement order
13
if the application for the enforcement order was made 6 years after
14
the arbitration order was made.
15
11 Subsection 570(1)
16
After "subsection (2) or", insert "548(10) or".
17
12 Subsection 570(1) (note)
18
Repeal the note, substitute:
19
Note 1:
A party to small claims proceedings might be ordered to pay for costs
20
under subsection 548(10) if a small claims order is made against that
21
party. The costs are limited to any filing fees paid to the court by the
22
party that applied for the small claims order.
23
Note 2:
The Commonwealth might be ordered to pay costs under section 569.
24
A State or Territory might be ordered to pay costs under section 569A.
25
13 After paragraph 576(2)(aa)
26
Insert:
27
(ab) conciliating matters in dispute in small claims proceedings
28
that have been referred by the court in the proceedings under
29
section 548B;
30
(ac) arbitrating matters in dispute in small claims proceedings
31
under section 548D;
32
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Small claims procedure
Part 2
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
79
14 Subsection 592(3) (note)
1
Omit "Note", substitute "Note 1".
2
15 At the end of subsection 592(3)
3
Add:
4
Note 2:
This subsection does not apply in relation to conferences conducted as
5
part of a conciliation under section 548C.
6
16 After paragraph 601(5)(f)
7
Insert:
8
(fa) a decision to issue a certificate under subsection 548C(7);
9
17 After paragraph 675(2)(i)
10
Insert:
11
(ia) an order under subsection 548D(3) (which deals with
12
arbitration of small claims);
13
Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999
14
18 At the end of subsection 102(2)
15
Add:
16
; (p) the power to refer matters under subsection 548B(1) of the
17
Fair Work Act 2009
and to make orders as mentioned in
18
subsection 548B(6) of that Act.
19
Division 2
--Amendments contingent on the
20
commencement of the Federal Circuit and
21
Family Court of Australia Act 2020
22
Fair Work Act 2009
23
19 Section 548A (note)
24
Repeal the note, substitute:
25
Note:
Sections 157 and 158 of the
Federal Circuit and Family Court of
26
Australia Act 2020
set out requirements for the Federal Circuit and
27
Family Court of Australia (Division 2) in relation to advising parties
28
to proceedings about the use of dispute resolution processes.
29
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 2
Small claims procedure
80
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
20 Subsection 548C(5) (note)
1
Repeal the note, substitute:
2
Note:
The parties could apply to the court for consent orders following
3
conciliation (see, for example, section 167 (consent orders) of the
4
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2020
).
5
21 Subsection 548E(2) (note)
6
Repeal the note, substitute:
7
Note:
The court could also use other available powers to enforce the
8
arbitration order (see, for example, section 173 (arbitration awards) of
9
the
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2020
).
10
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2020
11
22 At the end of subsection 254(2)
12
Add:
13
; (t) the power to refer matters under subsection 548B(1) of the
14
Fair Work Act 2009
and to make orders as mentioned in
15
subsection 548B(6) of that Act.
16
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Prohibiting employment advertisements with pay rate less than the national minimum
wage
Part 3
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
81
Part 3--Prohibiting employment advertisements with
1
pay rate less than the national minimum
2
wage
3
Fair Work Act 2009
4
23 At the end of section 528
5
Add:
6
Division 4 is about the requirement for national system employers
7
to not advertise employment at a rate of pay less than the national
8
minimum wage or special national minimum wage.
9
24 At the end of Part 3-6
10
Add:
11
Division 4--Employers must not advertise employment
12
with rate of pay less than the national minimum
13
wage
14
536AA Employers must not advertise employment with rate of pay
15
less than the national minimum wage
16
(1) An employer must not advertise, or cause to be advertised,
17
employment with the employer specifying a rate of pay less than
18
the national minimum wage or special national minimum wage, as
19
the case requires, set by a national minimum wage order.
20
Note:
This section is a civil remedy provision (see Part 4-1).
21
(2) However, subsection (1) does not apply if:
22
(a) the base rate of pay an employer is required to pay is less
23
than the national minimum wage or special national
24
minimum wage, as the case requires; and
25
(b) the rate of pay advertised is at least equal to that base rate of
26
pay.
27
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 3
Prohibiting employment advertisements with pay rate less than the national
minimum wage
82
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(3) For the purposes of this section, an employer includes a person
1
who would be an employer if the advertised employment occurs.
2
25 Subsection 539(2) (after table item 29)
3
Insert:
4
5
29AA
536AA(1)
an inspector
(a) the Federal Court;
(b) the Federal
Circuit Court
60 penalty
units
26 After paragraph 557(2)(o)
6
Insert:
7
(oa) section 536AA (which deals with employers advertising
8
employment with a rate of pay less than the national
9
minimum wage);
10
27 After paragraph 716(1)(f)
11
Insert:
12
(fa) section 536AA (which deals with employers advertising
13
employment with a rate of pay less than the national
14
minimum wage);
15
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Compliance notices, infringement notices and enforceable undertakings
Part 4
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
83
Part 4--Compliance notices, infringement notices
1
and enforceable undertakings
2
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity)
3
Act 2016
4
28 Section 5
5
Insert:
6
remuneration-related contravention
has the meaning given by the
7
FW Act.
8
29 Section 98 (at the end of the heading)
9
Add "
and certain remuneration-related contraventions
".
10
30 Subsection 98(1)
11
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
12
Application of this section
13
(1) This section applies if the ABC Commissioner reasonably believes
14
a person has committed:
15
(a) a contravention of a civil remedy provision; or
16
(b) a remuneration-related contravention that relates (whether
17
directly or indirectly) to building work.
18
31 After subsection 98(4)
19
Insert:
20
(4A) An inspector must not under section 111 of this Act institute
21
proceedings under the FW Act against a person in relation to a
22
remuneration-related contravention if an undertaking given by the
23
person under this section in relation to the contravention has not
24
been withdrawn.
25
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 4
Compliance notices, infringement notices and enforceable undertakings
84
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
32 Application of amendments
1
Section 98 of the
Building and Construction Industry (Improving
2
Productivity) Act 2016
, as amended by this Part, applies in relation to
3
contraventions that occur before, on or after the commencement of this
4
item.
5
Fair Work Act 2009
6
33 Subsection 539(2) (table item 33, column 4)
7
Omit "30 penalty units", substitute "45 penalty units".
8
34 Subsection 558(2)
9
Omit "one-tenth", substitute "three-twentieths".
10
35 After subsection 715(2)
11
Insert:
12
(2A) In deciding whether to accept a written undertaking given by the
13
person, the Fair Work Ombudsman may take into account any
14
relevant matter, including the following:
15
(a) whether the person made a voluntary disclosure of the
16
contravention to the Fair Work Ombudsman;
17
(b) whether the person has demonstrated a willingness to address
18
the contravention's impact;
19
(c) whether the person has demonstrated a willingness to fully
20
cooperate with the Fair Work Ombudsman in relation to the
21
contravention;
22
(d) whether the contravention was the result of an honest mistake
23
or inadvertence by the person;
24
(e) the nature and gravity of the contravention;
25
(f) the circumstances in which the contravention occurred;
26
(g) the person's history of compliance with this Act.
27
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Sham arrangements
Part 5
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
85
Part 5--Sham arrangements
1
Fair Work Act 2009
2
36 Subsection 539(2) (table item 11, column 1)
3
Omit "357(1)".
4
37 Subsection 539(2) (table item 11, column 1)
5
Omit "358".
6
38 Subsection 539(2) (table item 11, column 1)
7
Omit "359".
8
39 Subsection 539(2) (before table item 12)
9
Insert:
10
11B
357(1)
358
359
(a) a person affected
by the
contravention;
(b) an industrial
association;
(c) an inspector
(a) the Federal Court;
(b) the Federal
Circuit Court
90 penalty
units
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 6
Functions of the ABC Commissioner and the Fair Work Ombudsman
86
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Part 6--Functions of the ABC Commissioner and the
1
Fair Work Ombudsman
2
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity)
3
Act 2016
4
40 Before paragraph 16(1)(d)
5
Insert:
6
(cb) publishing information relating to the circumstances in which
7
the ABC Commissioner will institute, or defer instituting,
8
proceedings;
9
Fair Work Act 2009
10
41 After paragraph 682(1)(d)
11
Insert:
12
(da) to publish information relating to the circumstances in which
13
the Fair Work Ombudsman will commence, or defer
14
commencing, proceedings;
15
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Criminalising underpayments
Part 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
87
Part 7--Criminalising underpayments
1
Division 1
--Main amendments
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
42 Section 12
4
Insert:
5
dishonest
means:
6
(a) dishonest according to the standards of ordinary people; and
7
(b) known by the defendant to be dishonest according to the
8
standards of ordinary people.
9
related offence provision
means:
10
(a) section 6 of the
Crimes Act 1914
; or
11
(b) a provision of Part 2.4 of the
Criminal Code
;
12
to the extent that the offence created by the provision relates to an
13
offence against this Act.
14
43 After paragraph 26(2)(d)
15
Insert:
16
(da) a law of a State or Territory providing for an employer, or an
17
officer, employee or agent of an employer, to be liable to be
18
prosecuted for an offence relating to underpaying an
19
employee an amount payable to the employee in relation to
20
the performance of work; or
21
(db) a law of a State or Territory providing for an employer, or an
22
officer, employee or agent of an employer, to be liable to be
23
prosecuted for an offence relating to an employee record that
24
is required to be made or kept by the employer under this Act
25
(such as an offence for failing to make or keep such a record
26
or making or keeping a false or misleading record); or
27
44 Paragraph 26(2)(g)
28
After "(d),", insert "(da), (db),".
29
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 7
Criminalising underpayments
88
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
45 At the end of subsection 323(1)
1
Add:
2
Note 3:
Section 324B creates an offence relating to underpayments.
3
46 Before section 325
4
Insert:
5
324B Offence relating to underpayments
6
(1) An employer commits an offence if the employer dishonestly
7
engages in a systematic pattern of underpaying one or more
8
employees.
9
Penalty:
10
(a) for an individual--imprisonment for 4 years or 5,000 penalty
11
units, or both; or
12
(b) for a body corporate--25,000 penalty units.
13
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an employer underpays an
14
employee if the employer fails to pay the employee an amount
15
payable to the employee in relation to the performance of work:
16
(a) in full (except as provided by section 324); or
17
(b) in money; or
18
(c) at least monthly.
19
Note:
Amounts referred to in subsection (2) include the following if they
20
become payable during a relevant period:
21
(a) incentive-based payments and bonuses;
22
(b) loadings;
23
(c) monetary allowances;
24
(d) overtime or penalty rates;
25
(e) leave payments.
26
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2):
27
(a) anything given or provided by the employer other than in
28
money is taken never to have been given or provided to the
29
employee; and
30
(b) any amount that the employee has been required to spend or
31
pay contrary to subsection 325(1), or in accordance with a
32
term to which subsection 326(3) applies, is taken to be a
33
deduction, from an amount payable to the employee, made
34
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Criminalising underpayments
Part 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
89
by the employer otherwise than in accordance with
1
section 324.
2
Determination of dishonesty
3
(4) In a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1), the
4
determination of dishonesty is a matter for the trier of fact.
5
Matters to which court may have regard in determining whether
6
employer engaged in systematic pattern of underpaying employees
7
(5) In determining for the purposes of subsection (1) whether the
8
employer engaged in a systematic pattern of underpaying one or
9
more employees, a court may have regard to:
10
(a) the number of underpayments; and
11
(b) the period over which the underpayments occurred; and
12
(c) the number of employees affected by the underpayments; and
13
(d) the employer's response, or failure to respond, to any
14
complaints made about the underpayments; and
15
(e) whether the employer failed to comply with a requirement in
16
subsection 535(1), (2) or (4) in relation to an employee
17
record relating to the underpayments; and
18
(f) whether the employer failed to comply with a requirement in
19
subsection 536(1), (2) or (3) in relation to a pay slip relating
20
to the underpayments.
21
(6) Subsection (5) does not limit the matters that a court may have
22
regard to.
23
Note 1:
If a court convicts an employer of an offence against subsection (1),
24
the court may, in addition to any penalty imposed on the employer,
25
order the employer to make reparation to any other person, by way of
26
money payment or otherwise, in respect of any loss suffered, or any
27
expense incurred, by the other person by reason of the offence (see
28
section 21B of the
Crimes Act 1914
).
29
Note 2:
An employer or another person may also be liable to an offence as a
30
result of Part 2.4 of the
Criminal Code
(extensions of criminal
31
responsibility) or section 6 of the
Crimes Act 1914
(accessory after the
32
fact).
33
Note 3:
Part 2.5 of the
Criminal Code
(which deals with corporate criminal
34
responsibility) does not apply to an offence against subsection (1) of
35
this section (see section 793 of this Act).
36
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 7
Criminalising underpayments
90
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Note 4:
Civil proceedings may also be brought under this Act to recover
1
unpaid amounts payable to an employee in relation to the performance
2
of work.
3
324C Commencing proceedings for offence relating to
4
underpayments
5
(1) Subject to subsection (2), proceedings for an offence against
6
subsection 324B(1) (underpayments), or for an offence against
7
section 6 of the
Crimes Act 1914
or a provision of Part 2.4 of the
8
Criminal Code
that relates to an offence against
9
subsection 324B(1), may only be commenced by:
10
(a) the Fair Work Ombudsman; or
11
(b) if the proceedings relate to a matter that involves a building
12
industry participant (within the meaning of the
Building and
13
Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016
) or
14
building work (within the meaning of that Act) and without
15
limiting paragraph (a) of this subsection--the Australian
16
Building and Construction Commissioner.
17
Note:
In relation to paragraph (1)(b), see paragraph 16(1)(ca) of the
Building
18
and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016
.
19
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) affects the ability of the Director of
20
Public Prosecutions to institute proceedings for an offence.
21
(3) Despite anything in any other law, proceedings for an offence
22
against subsection 324B(1), or for an offence against section 6 of
23
the
Crimes Act 1914
or a provision of Part 2.4 of the
Criminal
24
Code
that relates to an offence against subsection 324B(1), in
25
respect of particular conduct may only be commenced:
26
(a) within 7 years after that conduct occurred; or
27
(b) at any later time with the Minister's consent.
28
47 Section 536CA
29
Repeal the section.
30
48 After subsection 536D(2)
31
Insert:
32
Compliance and enforcement
Schedule 5
Criminalising underpayments
Part 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
91
Determination of dishonesty
1
(2A) In a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) or (2), the
2
determination of dishonesty is a matter for the trier of fact.
3
49 Paragraphs 682(1)(c) and (d)
4
After "this Act", insert ", a related offence provision".
5
50 Paragraph 706(1)(a)
6
After "this Act", insert ", a related offence provision".
7
51 Subsection 711(1)
8
Omit "a civil remedy provision", substitute "a provision of this Act or a
9
related offence provision".
10
52 Paragraph 712AA(1)(a)
11
After "this Act", insert ", a related offence provision".
12
53 Subsections 793(1) and (2)
13
After "this Act", insert ", a related offence provision".
14
54 At the end of subsection 793(4)
15
Add "or a related offence provision".
16
Division 2
--Consequential amendments
17
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity)
18
Act 2016
19
55 Section 5 (paragraph (a) of the definition of
designated
20
building law
)
21
After "FW Act", insert ", an FW Act related offence provision".
22
56 Section 5
23
Insert:
24
FW Act related offence provision
means:
25
(a) section 6 of the
Crimes Act 1914
; or
26
Schedule 5
Compliance and enforcement
Part 7
Criminalising underpayments
92
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(b) a provision of Part 2.4 of the
Criminal Code
;
1
to the extent that the offence created by the provision relates to an
2
offence against the FW Act.
3
57 After paragraph 16(1)(c)
4
Insert:
5
(ca) instituting proceedings for an offence against
6
subsection 324B(1) of the FW Act (underpayments), or for
7
an offence against section 6 of the
Crimes Act 1914
or a
8
provision of Part 2.4 of the
Criminal Code
that relates to an
9
offence against subsection 324B(1) of the FW Act, relating to
10
a matter that involves a building industry participant or
11
building work;
12
Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
13
58 After paragraph 23AB(4)(a)
14
Insert:
15
(ab) an indictable offence against the
Fair Work Act 2009
;
16
The Fair Work Commission
Schedule 6
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
93
Schedule 6--The Fair Work Commission
1
2
Fair Work Act 2009
3
1 Section 587
4
Repeal the section, substitute:
5
587 Dismissing applications
6
(1) The FWC may dismiss an application if the application is not made
7
in accordance with this Act.
8
(2) The FWC may dismiss an application at any stage in dealing with
9
the matter if:
10
(a) the FWC is satisfied that the application:
11
(i) is frivolous, vexatious, misconceived or lacking in
12
substance; or
13
(ii) has no reasonable prospects of success; or
14
(iii) is otherwise an abuse of the process of the FWC; and
15
(b) the applicant has been given a reasonable opportunity to
16
make submissions to the FWC in relation to whether the
17
application should be dismissed.
18
(3) However, subsection (2) does not apply to an application under
19
section 365 or 773.
20
(4) The FWC may dismiss an application on grounds set out in this
21
section:
22
(a) on its own initiative; or
23
(b) on application.
24
(5)
This section does not limit when the FWC may dismiss an
25
application.
26
Note:
For another power of the FWC to dismiss an application for a remedy
27
for unfair dismissal made under Division 5 of Part 3-2, see
28
section 399A.
29
Schedule 6
The Fair Work Commission
94
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
587A Orders about further applications after dismissal
1
(1) This section applies if the FWC dismisses an application in
2
accordance with subsection 587(2).
3
(2) The FWC may order that the applicant must not make a further
4
application to the FWC of a kind specified in the order without the
5
permission of the FWC, given by the President, a Vice President or
6
a Deputy President.
7
Note 1:
For example, the FWC could order a person to not make one or more
8
of the following without permission:
9
(a) an application to the FWC under this Act in relation to the
10
person's dismissal by a specified employer;
11
(b) an application to the FWC under section 603 or 604 that relates
12
to an application made by the person before the date of the order;
13
(c) an application to the FWC under this Act that would result in a
14
specified person becoming a party to a matter.
15
Note 2:
The FWC must be constituted by a Full Bench to give an order under
16
subsection (2) (see subsection 616(4A)).
17
(3) The applicant must have been given a reasonable opportunity to
18
make submissions to the FWC in relation to whether the order
19
should be made.
20
(4) The FWC may make the order:
21
(a) on its own initiative; or
22
(b) on application.
23
(5) An order under subsection (2) has effect despite any other
24
provision of this Act or any other Act.
25
(6) An application made in contravention of an order under
26
subsection (2) has no effect.
27
No appeal of decisions to refuse permission
28
(7) A decision to refuse to permit a further application as mentioned in
29
subsection (2) must not be appealed under section 604.
30
2 Paragraphs 603(3)(b) and (c)
31
Repeal the paragraphs.
32
The Fair Work Commission
Schedule 6
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
95
3 Paragraph 607(1)(b)
1
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
2
(b) the FWC has taken into account the views of the persons who
3
would otherwise, or who will, make submissions (whether
4
oral or written) for consideration in the appeal or review as to
5
whether the appeal or review should be heard or conducted
6
without a hearing.
7
4 After subsection 616(4)
8
Insert:
9
Further applications after application has been dismissed
10
(4A) An order under subsection 587A(2) about further applications
11
following the dismissal of an application must be made by a Full
12
Bench.
13
5 Before paragraph 675(2)(j)
14
Insert:
15
(ib) an order under subsection 587A(2) (which deals with further
16
applications after dismissal);
17
Schedule 7
Application, saving and transitional provisions
96
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Schedule 7--Application, saving and
1
transitional provisions
2
3
Fair Work Act 2009
4
1 In the appropriate position in Schedule 1
5
Insert:
6
Part 10--Amendments made by the Fair Work
7
Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs
8
and Economic Recovery) Act 2020
9
Division 1--Definitions
10
44 Definitions
11
In this Part:
12
amended Act
means this Act as amended by the
Fair Work
13
Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery)
14
Act 2020.
15
amending Act
means the
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting
16
Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Act 2020
.
17
commencement
means the commencement of this Part.
18
Division 2--Amendments made by Schedule 1 to the
19
amending Act
20
45 Resolving uncertainties and difficulties about interaction between
21
enterprise agreements and the definition of casual
22
employee and casual conversion rights
23
(1) On application by an employer, employee or employee
24
organisation covered by an enterprise agreement that was made
25
Application, saving and transitional provisions
Schedule 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
97
before commencement, the FWC may make a determination
1
varying the agreement:
2
(a) to resolve an uncertainty or difficulty relating to the
3
interaction between the agreement and any of the following:
4
(i) the definition of
casual employee
in section 15A of the
5
amended Act (including to deal with uncertainty or
6
difficulty arising from the circumstances in which
7
employees are to be employed as casual employees
8
under the agreement);
9
(ii) the provisions of Division 4A of Part 2-2 of the
10
amended Act; or
11
(b) to make the agreement operate effectively with that section or
12
those provisions.
13
(2) A variation of an enterprise agreement under this clause operates
14
from the day specified in the determination, which may be a day
15
before the determination is made.
16
46 Application of certain amendments
17
(1) Section 15A of the amended Act applies on and after
18
commencement in relation to offers of employment that were given
19
before, on or after commencement.
20
(2) Subclause (1) does not apply in relation to a person who is an
21
employee of an employer as a result of accepting an offer that was
22
made before commencement if either of the following apply in
23
relation to that person:
24
(a) a court made a binding decision before commencement that
25
the person is not a casual employee of the employer;
26
(b) the person converted the employment before commencement
27
to employment other than casual employment under a term of
28
a fair work instrument or contract of employment.
29
(3) In addition to subclause (1), section 15A of the amended Act (and
30
the amendment made by item 1 of Schedule 1 to the amending Act)
31
also applies before commencement in relation to offers of
32
employment that were given before commencement, unless either
33
of the following apply in relation to a person who is or was an
34
employee of an employer as a result of accepting the offer:
35
Schedule 7
Application, saving and transitional provisions
98
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(a) a court made a binding decision before commencement that
1
the person is not a casual employee of the employer;
2
(b) the person converted the employment before commencement
3
to employment other than casual employment under a term of
4
a fair work instrument or contract of employment.
5
(4) To avoid doubt, if, apart from subclause (3), an employee could
6
have made a claim for accrued relevant entitlements (within the
7
meaning of subsection 545A(4) of the amended Act), the effect of
8
that subclause is that the employee has not accrued, and cannot
9
make a claim for, those entitlements.
10
(5) Subject to clause 47, Division 4A of Part 2-2 of the amended Act
11
applies in relation to periods of employment starting before, on or
12
after commencement.
13
(6) Section 545A of the amended Act applies in relation to
14
entitlements that accrue, and loading amounts paid, on or after
15
commencement.
16
(7) In addition to subclause (6), section 545A of the amended Act also
17
applies in relation to entitlements that accrue, and loading amounts
18
paid, before commencement.
19
(8) To avoid doubt, section 545A of the amended Act applies:
20
(a) to periods of employment starting before, on or after
21
commencement (regardless of whether the employment
22
period ended before commencement); and
23
(b) regardless of whether a person is, or is not, an employee of
24
the relevant employer at the time a claim to which that
25
section relates is made.
26
(9) A reference to periods of employment as a casual employee in
27
section 87, 96, 117, 119 or 121 of the amended Act applies to
28
periods of employment starting before, on or after commencement.
29
(10) A reference to a regular casual employee in section 23, 65, 67 or
30
384 of the amended Act applies to periods of employment starting
31
before, on or after commencement.
32
(11) To avoid doubt, nothing in subclause (1) is taken to change the
33
time at which the person became an employee of the employer.
34
Application, saving and transitional provisions
Schedule 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
99
47 Transitioning casual employees
1
(1) This clause applies in relation to an employee and an employer if
2
any or all of the following apply:
3
(a) the employee was, immediately before commencement (and
4
disregarding subclause 46(3)), a casual employee of the
5
employer;
6
(b) the employee was, immediately before commencement (and
7
disregarding subclause 46(3)), designated as a casual
8
employee by the employer for the purposes of:
9
(i) any fair work instrument that applies to the employee;
10
or
11
(ii) the employee's contract of employment;
12
(c) the employee is a casual employee of the employer within the
13
meaning of section 15A of the amended Act because of an
14
offer of an employment made before commencement.
15
Note:
The effect of this application provision is to provide a requirement for
16
an employer to assess whether to offer conversion under Division 4A
17
of Part 2-2 of the amended Act (as modified under this clause) to any
18
employee who was, or may have been, a casual employee immediately
19
before commencement, and to any employee who at commencement
20
is a casual employee within the meaning of section 15A of the
21
amended Act.
22
(2) Division 4A (other than Subdivision C) of Part 2-2 of the amended
23
Act is taken to apply in relation to the employee and employer for
24
the period (the
transition period
) of 6 months after commencement
25
only as if:
26
(a) the employer was required under section 66B of the amended
27
Act to assess, at a time during the transition period, whether
28
the employer was required to make an offer to the employee
29
under that section; and
30
(b) paragraph 66B(1)(a) of the amended Act were a requirement
31
for the employee to have been employed by the employer for
32
a period of 12 months ending the day the assessment is made;
33
and
34
(c) paragraph 66B(2)(c) of the amended Act were a requirement
35
to give the offer to the employee within 21 days after making
36
the assessment; and
37
Schedule 7
Application, saving and transitional provisions
100
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
(d) subsection 66C(3) of the amended Act included a
1
requirement to give a notice under that subsection if, when
2
the assessment is made, the employee does not meet the
3
requirement in paragraph (b) of this clause; and
4
(e) paragraph 66C(4)(c) of the amended Act were a requirement
5
to give the notice within 21 days of making the assessment
6
but no later than the end of the transition period.
7
(3) Subdivision C of Part 2-2 of the amended Act does not apply in
8
relation to the employee and employer for the transition period.
9
(4) Division 4A (including Subdivision C) of Part 2-2 of the amended
10
Act applies in relation to the employee and employer to whom
11
paragraph (1)(a) or (b) applies after the transition period as if the
12
employee were a casual employee of the employer within the
13
meaning of section 15A of the amended Act.
14
(5) An employer referred to in subclause (1) must give an employee
15
referred to in that subclause a Casual Employment Information
16
Statement as soon as practicable after the end of the transition
17
period.
18
48 Variations to modern awards
19
(1) If:
20
(a) a modern award is made before commencement; and
21
(b) the modern award is in operation on commencement; and
22
(c) immediately before commencement, the modern award
23
includes a term (the
relevant term
) that:
24
(i) defines or describes casual employment; or
25
(ii) deals with the circumstances in which employees are to
26
be employed as casual employees; or
27
(iii) provides for the manner in which casual employees are
28
to be employed; or
29
(iv) provides for the conversion of casual employment to
30
another type of employment;
31
then the FWC must, within 6 months after commencement, review
32
the relevant term in accordance with subclause (2).
33
(2) The review must consider the following:
34
Application, saving and transitional provisions
Schedule 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
101
(a) whether the relevant term is consistent with this Act as
1
amended by Schedule 1 to the amending Act;
2
(b) whether there is any uncertainty or difficulty relating to the
3
interaction between the award and the Act as so amended.
4
(3) If the review of a relevant term under subclause (1) finds that:
5
(a) the relevant term is not consistent with this Act as amended
6
by Schedule 1 to the amending Act; or
7
(b) there is a difficulty or uncertainty relating to the interaction
8
between the award and the Act as so amended;
9
then the FWC must make a determination varying the modern
10
award to make the award consistent or operate effectively with the
11
Act as so amended.
12
(4) The determination must be made as soon as reasonably practicable
13
after the review is conducted.
14
(5) A determination under subclause (2) comes into operation on (and
15
takes effect from) the start of the day the determination is made.
16
(6) Section 168 applies to a determination made under subclause (2) as
17
if it were a determination made under Part 2-3.
18
Division 3--Amendments made by Schedule 2 to the
19
amending Act
20
49 Transitional--flexible work directions
21
To avoid doubt, the repeal of Part 6-4D of the amended Act by Part 3 of
22
Schedule 2 to the amending Act has the effect that:
23
(a) no further flexible work directions can be given; and
24
(b) any flexible work directions that were in effect at the time of
25
the repeal cease to have effect from the time of the repeal;
26
and
27
(c) the provisions mentioned in repealed subsection 789GZO(1)
28
are no longer taken to be terms of any modern award.
29
Schedule 7
Application, saving and transitional provisions
102
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
Division 4--Amendments made by Schedule 3 to the
1
amending Act
2
50 Application of amendments relating to enterprise agreements
3
(1) Except as provided by any of subclauses (2) to (8), the
4
amendments of Part 2-4 made by Schedule 3 to the amending Act
5
apply in relation to:
6
(a) enterprise agreements, or proposed enterprise agreements, for
7
which the access period begins on or after commencement;
8
and
9
(b) variations, or proposed variations, of enterprise agreements
10
for which the access period for the variation, or proposed
11
variation, begins on or after commencement.
12
(2) Sections 171 and 254B of the amended Act apply in relation to the
13
performance of a function or exercise of a power on or after
14
commencement.
15
(3) Subsection 173(3) of the amended Act applies in relation to a
16
proposed enterprise agreement for which the notification time is on
17
or after commencement.
18
(4) The repeal of subsection 189(1A) made by Division 2 of Part 5 of
19
Schedule 3 to the amending Act applies in relation to an enterprise
20
agreement for which the access period begins on or after that
21
repeal.
22
(5) Subdivision AA of Division 7 of Part 2-4 of the amended Act
23
applies in relation to an eligible franchisee employer for a
24
single-enterprise agreement whether the employer becomes a
25
franchisee of the relevant franchise, or the agreement is made,
26
before or after commencement.
27
(6) Section 225 of the amended Act applies in relation to enterprise
28
agreements that pass their nominal expiry date on or after
29
commencement.
30
(7) Sections 254AA and 255AA of the amended Act apply in relation
31
to an application made on or after commencement.
32
Application, saving and transitional provisions
Schedule 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
103
(8) Subsections 272(5) and 273(6) of the amended Act apply in
1
relation to workplace determinations made on or after
2
commencement.
3
51 Transfer of business
4
Subsection 311(1A) of the amended Act applies in relation to an
5
employee who becomes employed by the new employer after
6
commencement.
7
Division 5--Amendments made by Schedule 4 to the
8
amending Act
9
52 Application of amendments relating to greenfields agreements
10
The amendments made by Schedule 4 to the amending Act apply
11
in relation to an enterprise agreement that is made on or after
12
commencement.
13
Division 6--Amendments made by Schedule 5 to the
14
amending Act
15
54 Compliance notices
16
Section 539 of the amended Act applies in relation to notices under
17
section 716 given on or after commencement.
18
55 Remuneration-related contraventions
19
(1) Paragraphs (b) in column 2 of items 5 and 6 of the table in
20
subsection 546(2) of the amended Act apply in relation to conduct
21
engaged in on or after commencement.
22
(2) For the purposes of the application of section 557 in relation to
23
those paragraphs, conduct engaged in before commencement
24
cannot constitute the same course of conduct as conduct engaged in
25
after commencement.
26
Schedule 7
Application, saving and transitional provisions
104
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
No. , 2020
56 Infringement notices
1
Section 558 of the amended Act applies in relation to conduct
2
occurring on or after commencement.
3
57 Underpayments
4
Section 324B of the amended Act applies in relation to conduct
5
engaged in on or after commencement.
6
Division 7--Amendments made by Schedule 6 to the
7
amending Act
8
60 Varying and revoking certain FWC decisions
9
Subsection 603(3) of the amended Act applies in relation to a
10
decision made on or after commencement.
11
61 Appeals and reviews without hearings
12
Section 607 of the amended Act applies in relation to appeals and
13
reviews notified, or applied for, on or after commencement.
14
2 Before clause 54 of Schedule 1
15
Insert:
16
53 Employers must not advertise employment with rate of pay less
17
than the national minimum wage
18
Section 536AA of the amended Act applies in relation to
19
advertisements published on or after the commencement of this
20
clause.
21
3 At the end of Division 6 of Part 10 of Schedule 1
22
Add:
23
58 Small claims procedure--increase in amount of award
24
(1) This clause applies if:
25
Application, saving and transitional provisions
Schedule 7
No. , 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic
Recovery) Bill 2020
105
(a) a person has applied for an order (other than a pecuniary
1
penalty order) under Division 2 of Part 4-1 from a court
2
mentioned in section 548; and
3
(b) the person has indicated in accordance with
4
paragraph 548(1)(c) that the person wants the small claims
5
procedure to apply to the proceedings; and
6
(c) the proceedings (disregarding any appeals) have not been
7
finally determined before the commencement of this clause.
8
(2) The application:
9
(a) is taken to have been made under the amended Act; and
10
(b) may be amended accordingly.
11
59 Small claims procedure--conciliation and arbitration of small
12
claims proceedings
13
Sections 548A to 548E of the amended Act apply in relation to
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small claims proceedings commenced on or after the
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commencement of this clause.
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