The Prime Minister and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations have announced proposed changes to the industrial relations system.

The Howard Government will:

• establish the Australian Fair Pay Commission; 
• enshrine minimum conditions in legislation;
• introduce the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard;
• simplify the agreement making process at the workplace;
• provide award protection for those not covered by agreements;
• change the role of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission;
• amend the unfair dismissal laws; and
• introduce a national system of workplace relations (subject to States’ agreement).

The Howard Government intends to exempt businesses who employ up to 100 employees from unfair dismissal laws. The Government will continue to protect all employees by providing a remedy for unlawful termination, which prohibits dismissal for discriminatory grounds such as race, colour, sex, union membership or pregnancy .

For businesses with over 100 employees, employees covered will be required to have been employed for six months before they can pursue an unfair dismissal remedy. This is an extension of the current 3-month qualifying period.