New IR laws commence

The Government's Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008 (the Act) became law from midnight 27 March 2008. This means that starting from today employers are no longer able to make new Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) with their employees.

AWAs have now been replaced by Individual Transitional Employment Agreements (ITEAs) which can only be made by employers using AWAs as at 1 December 2007 and with employees currently on AWAs or new employees. These ITEAs can be made up until 31 December 2009.

AWAs that were made prior to the Act coming into effect can still be lodged with the Workplace Authority so long as they are lodged within 14 days of the date they were made.

The amending Act also introduces a new 'no-disadvantage test' to apply to ITEAs and collective agreements lodged with the Workplace Authority. It also removes the obligation on employers to provide employees with the Workplace Relations Fact Sheet.

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