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WorkChoices: Minimum Employment Conditions

Since March 2006, four minimum employment conditions apply to all permanent employees working for incorporated companies, or under various awards. These conditions entitle you to:

1.	Work up to 38 ordinary hours per week. You may be expected to work a 'reasonable' number of additional hours.
2.	Four weeks paid annual leave per year. You may only trade a maximum of 2 weeks leave for additional pay.
3.	Ten days paid personal leave per year. This includes sick leave and carer's leave. There are also provisions for additional carer's and compassionate leave.
4.	Fifty-two weeks unpaid parental leave. This includes maternity and paternity leave.

These minimum conditions are outlined in the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard. The Standard overrides any agreement, covered by WorkChoices, that contains less favourable conditions.

If you believe your employer is contravening the standard and wish to take advantage of the dispute settling procedure, financial assistance is available.

For more information on the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard see the WorkChoices website http://www.workchoices.gov.au

To check whether you are covered by WorkChoices see The impact of the WorkChoices legislation.

Posted: 28/09/2006