Awards

Many jobs are covered by a federal or state industrial award. Awards outline the rights and obligations of employers and the legally binding minimum wage rates and employment conditions for employees.

As an employer, you will need to determine if the federal workplace relations relations system affects you and if so, what you need to comply with.

For more information on award coverage under the new system, visit the Fair Work Online website.

Agreements

On 28 March 2008, the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008 came into effect, preventing the creation of new Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs), introducing Individual Transitional Employment Agreements (ITEAs) and establishing the No-disadvantage test for future workplace agreements.

As a result of recent changes to workplace relations, ITEAs will operate as a 'transitional instrument' under the Fair Work Act 2009 until 31 December 2009. This means that there are new rules regarding varying and terminating ITEAs. After 31 December 2009, ITEAs can no longer be made.

For further information on the new workplace relations system, visit the Fair Work Online website.

Contracts

Written common law contracts of employment also set out wages and conditions for employees not covered by an award or agreement.