Questions & Answers - Fair Work Information Statement

Question:

Fair Work Information Statement: What is the effective date for sharing the statement with employees? Has the document been finalised?

Answer:

National System employers and Victorian employers must provide all new employees who commence employment on or after 1 January 2010 with a copy of the Fair Work Information Statement. The Fair Work Information Statement has yet to be finalised, but will be published on the fairwork.gov.au website for employers access sometime before January 2010.

Question:

Where can I locate a copy of the Fair Work Information Statement?

Answer:

The Fair Work Information Statement is yet to be finalised. It will be available on the fairwork.gov.au website sometime before January 2010.

Question:

Is there a replacement for the Workplace Relations Fact Sheet (stating minimum required standards for employees) which an employer had to provide to new employees?

Answer:

Not yet.

Question:

Will current employees need to be given the Fair Work Information Statement on 1 January? Or only new employees that start after that date?

Answer:

The obligation in section 125 of the Fair Work Act 2009 for an employer to give an employee the Fair Work Information Statement only applies to an employee who starts employment with the employer on or after 1 January 2010.

Question:

With regard to NES, Division 12 - Fair Work Information Statement, can you please confirm employer's obligations and the timing on this? It refers to the publication of the statement in the government Gazette. I assume this will be effective from 1/1/2010?

Answer:

That is correct, employers will be obliged to issue employees with the Fair Work Information Statement on and from 1 January 2010.

The Statement must be given to all new employees, who commence employment after that date. It does not need to be provided to any existing employees.