Enterprise agreements

Enterprise agreements are usually negotiated voluntarily between employers and their employees or the union on behalf of employees.

 

Like awards, they also set out the minimum conditions of employment for employees engaged under the agreement. 

 

Also like awards, enterprise agreements must also be approved by the Industrial Relations Commission.

 

Enterprise agreements may cover all or some of the employment conditions under the appropriate award.

 

Enterprise agreements must comply with all NSW laws and, in general, employees under an enterprise agreement should not be worse off than those under a similar award.

 

Federal collective agreements

 

If your employer is incorporated (a Pty Ltd company), they may be covered by a federal collective agreement.

 

This is another type of agreement, within the federal industrial relations system, which is negotiated between employers and their employees.

 

But if you are under 18 years of age, your employer will still have to make sure you are no worse off than you would be under a State award.

 

Federal Individual Transitional Employment Agreements (ITEA)

 

An Individual Transitional Employment Agreement (ITEA) is a new type of workplace agreement for some employees currently working for an incorporated employer, which means they are covered by the federal industrial relations system.

 

They are available for limited use and an ITEA can only be made until 31 December 2009.

 

All ITEAs are assessed against a special test to ensure that an employee in the federal system on this type of individual agreement receives fair pay and entitlements.

 

For more information contact the federal Workplace Ombudsman on 1300 363 264.