Regardless of whether you are an employer, employee or independent contractor working in Australia, most employment relationships in Australia are now covered by our national workplace relations system known as the Fair Work system.

Some parts of the Fair Work system have been in operation since 1 July 2009. Since 1 January 2010, sole traders, partnerships, other unincorporated entities and non-trading corporations in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania have been covered by the national system rather than their own specific state system. Employers who were already operating under the national system continue to be covered (e.g. Pty Ltd businesses and employers in the ACT, NT and Victoria).

Below are some key links to information pertaining to the Fair Work system, and how you can use it to understand your employee rights:

fair work information statement

All employers in the national workplace relations system are required by law to give each new employee the Fair Work Information Statement before, or as soon as possible after they start their job. Click to learn more.

national employment standards (NES)

The National Employment standards are 10 minimum standards of employment all businesses must adhere to when they employ staff. These are set out in the Fair Work Act 2009 and provide a safety net for all employees in the national workplace relations system.

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