President’s statement announcing a new modern awards review

Fair Work Commission

Our President, Justice Hatcher, has issued a statement starting a new review of modern awards following a request from the Hon. Tony Burke, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

During the review, the Commission will:

  • consider whether the terms of modern awards appropriately reflect the new object of the Fair Work Act 2009 and modern awards objective regarding job security and the need to improve access to secure work across the economy
  • commence a consultation and research process considering the impact of workplace relations setting on work and care, including early childhood education and care, having regard to relevant findings and recommendations of the Final Report of the Senate Select Committee on Work and Care, and
  • investigate existing award coverage and minimum standards for the arts and culture sector, including potential coverage gaps.

The Commission will also invite interested parties to advance any proposals to make modern awards easier to use without reducing entitlements for award-covered employees. The proposals should be confined to the 7 most commonly used awards listed in the President’s statement.

The President’s statement also outlines the process for the review, and notes that a draft timetable will be published by the end of September 2023.

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