Industrial Relations Laws

This area of law regulates industrial relations, that is, the relations between employers and employees and their representative organisations. This area of law provides for payment of wages, working conditions, leave, trade unions amongst others. In Australia, there are a number of laws both at the Commonwealth and State level which regulate industrial relations.

The major Commonwealth Statutes on industrial relations are:

• Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 requiring certain employers to promote equal opportunity for women in employment, to establish the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency and the office of the Director of Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace, and for related purposes
• Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1991 securing the health, safety and welfare at work of employees of the Commonwealth and of Commonwealth authorities; and protecting persons at or near workplaces from risks to health and safety arising out of the activities of such employees at work
• Workplace Relations Act 1996 relates to workplace relations, ensuring that the primary responsibility for determining matters affecting the relationship between employers and employees rests with the employer and employees at the workplace or enterprise level
• Workplace Relations Amendment (Termination of Employment) Act 2001 is an Act to amend the Workplace Relations Act 1996 so far as that Act relates to termination of employment, and for related purposes
• Workplace Relations Regulations 1996 is a compilation of Regulations made under the Workplace Relations Act 1996

All States have similar statutes regulating the industrial relations in the States. Some States have statutes which regulate the workers in a particular industry. States also have statutes dealing with compensation payable to the workers in case of injury or accident while at work.
There are special Courts and Tribunal set up to deal with matters concerning industrial relations and concerned statutes at the Commonwealth and State levels.