Last week Australia’s Senate passed the government’s Fair Work Amendment Legislation (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022. The bill is set to be given Royal Assent and made into law.

The legislation contains considerable changes to Australia’s industrial relations system.

One of the changes will see the use of fixed-term contracts restricted and pay secrecy terms prohibited.

The enterprise bargaining system, which formerly centred on the making of single enterprise agreements, will be transformed with greater accessibility for union-led multi-employer agreements and arbitration.

The Australia Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and Registered Organisations Commission (ROC) will be abolished.

Furthermore, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) will be provided with greater guidance and new Expert Panels to deal with equal remuneration and work value cases. The bill also states that sexual harassment will be expressly prohibited under the Fair Work Act 2009.

According to the RCSA (Recruitment, Consulting & Staffing Association), the majority of the Bill is set to commence on the day after it receives Royal Assent. However, there are several changes that have later commencement dates.