Awards
Many jobs are covered by a federal or state industrial award. Awards outline the rights and obligations of employers and the legally binding minimum wage rates and employment conditions for employees.

WorkChoices is the new federal workplace relations system that will affect up to 85 per cent of employees. As an employer, you will need to determine if this legislation affects you and if so, what you need to comply with.

For more information on award coverage under the new WorkChoices system, view the WorkChoices and federal awards and agreements and the WorkChoices and state awards and agreements fact sheets available on the WorkChoices website.

Agreements
Some workers are covered by an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) which is an individual negotiated agreement between the worker and his or her employer. It sets out wages and conditions of employment and is used in place of an award.

The Office of the Employment Advocate (OEA) provides advice on AWAs, with additional support available through the Small Business Program. Useful publications, such as AWA forms, templates and guides are also supplied for employers on the OEA website.

Some workplaces are covered by a Certified Agreement (CA), which is a collective agreement made between an employer and a group of employees or unions. It sets out wages and conditions of employment and is used in place of an award.

The new WorkChoices system puts in place transitional arrangements for state agreements covering employers and employees moving into the federal system. For more information, view the WorkChoices and state awards and agreements fact sheet available on the WorkChoices website.

Contracts
Written common law contracts of employment also set out wages and conditions for employees not covered by an award or agreement.