Fair Work Commission: What is being reviewed?

The Fair Work Commission’s review of modern awards begins on Wednesday. Its purpose is to provide a comprehensive review of current awards in order to update 2009’s Fair Work Act. The Commission will look to update 122 awards and accepted suggested amendments from labour and government bodies through submissions.

The Fair Work Commission looks to make changes in employment conditions like additional pay (Getty).

Awards are documents containing minimum terms and conditions for employment. They are industry specific and are the responsibility of the Fair Work Commission to create and change. 

These awards determine:

• The minimum rate of pay.
• Penalty rates – additional pay on top of a person’s regular wage for working nights, weekends or public      holidays.
• The minimum number of hours per shift a person can be paid for.
• When breaks can be taken during a shift.
• How much notice a person must give before they quit their job.

Click here for a current list of awards.

In its submission, the government says there is a need to reduce penalties in order to ease the cost burden for employers and increase employment. They say the review should consider the “softening economic environment and labour market” when making decisions. Penalty reduction would mean less penalty pay for people working on weekends, overnight and on public holidays.

The review is set to be completed by 2015.