The Fair Work Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 6 December 2022.

The act aims to, among other things:

• – Help employees ‘Secure Jobs and Better Pay’
• – Bring flexible rostering rights
• – Close the gender pay gap
• – Expand multi-employer bargaining

Some key points to note for employers:

• – Employers cannot issue employment contracts including pay secrecy clauses. Employees have the right to discuss their remuneration information and an employer cannot take action against this.
• – Anti-discrimination protections have been extended to include breastfeeding, gender identity and intersex status.
• – Employers can be vicariously liable for sexual harassment. Sexual harassment prohibition extend to workers, including contractors, subcontractors, work experience students, and volunteers
• – Employers now have limitations on fixed term contracts, including:

1. fixed term contracts with a maximum of two years
2. fixed term contracts with options to renew or extend more than once, or
3. consecutive fixed term contracts extending the period for more than 2 years

These changes are coming into play throughout the year, so please be aware and keep up to date.