Labor's Ten Minimum Standards

According to Labor’s pre-election policy announcements, the new government will introduce six new employment standards to take effect 1 January 2010. These standards will be enshrined in the federal workplace legislation. This article outlines the changes favoured by the new government.

There is no proposed change to standards for hours of work, annual leave and personal/carers leave. The current 12-month entitlement to unpaid parental leave will increase to 24 months. Both parents will be entitled to take separate periods of parental leave of 12 months each. Alternatively, one parent may request an additional 12 months unpaid parental leave. An employer will be able to decline a request only on reasonable business grounds. Parents will be entitled to request flexible work arrangements until a child reaches school age. Employers will need to have reasonable business grounds to support any refusal to grant this leave.

Community service leave will be available for activities such as jury service. Public holidays will be guaranteed and employees will be entitled to receive award penalty rates or compensation for working on a public holiday.

Minimum notice periods for termination of employment will be retained. In addition, employees made redundant within workplaces with fifteen or more employees will be entitled to severance pay. Employers will be required to give new employees a statement containing information regarding workplace rights including a statement about the right to join a union.

As the laws have not yet changed and detailed draft legislation has not been released, the outcome may differ to those described here. Australian Business Lawyers will continue to provide updates on any changes and developments as soon as they occur.



Labor's Ten Minimum Standards - To learn more about this author, visit Meredith Dorham's Website.

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