Awards and agreements
The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) is an independent industrial tribunal empowered by legislation to approve industrial instruments.
Industrial instruments are defined to mean an award, certified agreement, Queensland workplace agreement, industrial agreement, enterprise flexibility agreement, an order about labour market programs, apprentices and trainee’s wages and conditions, or an outworker’s code of practice.
From the 28 of March 2008 employers and employees can no longer make new Australian Workplace Agreements. Instead Individual Transitional Employee Agreements (ITEA) can be lodged with the Office of the Employment Advocate. Once lodged with the OEA, the conditions of the instrument are legally binding on the employer and employee, provided it passes the fairness test. For more information on ITEA visit - Office of the Employment Advocate (non-Queensland Government link).
About 17% of the Queensland workforce is not covered by any award or agreement (i.e. award free). However these employees are entitled to certain minimum conditions of employment provided for in the Act and may make their own private agreements with their employer about other entitlements.
State awards
What is a state award, who does it apply to?
What is a Federal award?
What is a Federal award? What is the difference between State and Federal awards?
Certified agreements
What is a certified agreement?
Queensland
workplace agreements
What is a Queensland workplace agreement?
Industrial agreements
What is an industrial agreement?
Last updated 21 July 2009
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