Awards and enterprise agreements

The Industrial Relations Commission sets conditions of employment and fixes wages and salaries by making industrial awards and approving enterprise agreements.

Awards are legal documents that outline the minimum pay rates and conditions of employment. Awards apply to employers and employees depending on the industry they work in and the type of job worked.

Awards don’t apply when an employer has an Enterprise agreement in place. Enterprise agreements set out minimum employment conditions and can apply to one business or a group of businesses.

Practice and procedure

The practice and procedure governing claims and applications for awards and enterprise agreements is described in Practice Notes:

Relevant legislation

Claims and applications for Award and Enterprise Agreements are dealt with under the following sections of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (the Act):

New Award Application (s10)
Variation/rescission of an existing Award (s17)
Award Review application (s19)
Employee (or Industrial Organisation) application for approval of an Enterprise Agreement (s32)

Apply

Prescribed forms
- Form 1 - Application, General Form (UCPR r.1; IRCR r 3.1)
- Form 1A - Application, Enterprise Award (IRCR r 3.1)
- Form 14 - Application for Approval of Enterprise Agreement (IRCR r3.1, s.34)
- Form 15 - Notification of Proposed Enterprise Agreement (s.36)
Award forms - Application for Inclusion on Register of Award Participants
Enterprise agreement application, notification and termination forms