| Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman | |
|---|---|
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1 July 2009 |
| Employees | 800+ |
| Minister responsible | The Hon. Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations |
| Agency executive | Nicholas Wilson |
| Website | |
| http://www.fairwork.gov.au | |
The Fair Work Ombudsman is the central point of contact for free advice and information on the Australian national workplace relations system. The Fair Work Ombudsman also investigates workplace complaints and enforces compliance with national workplace laws.
The Fair Work Ombudsman does this by:
The Fair Work Ombudsman is an independent statutory agency created by the Fair Work Act 2009 along with Fair Work Australia – the national workplace relations tribunal.
Contents |
The Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman consists of the Fair Work Ombudsman, supporting staff and Fair Work Inspectors.
Fair Work Inspectors provide advice, and investigate and resolve complaints and potential breaches of workplace law.[1]
The Fair Work Ombudsman has offices located in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Perth and many regional locations. The Fair Work Ombudsman also has state partner offices in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales that deliver Fair Work Ombudsman services.
The functions of the Fair Work Ombudsman, as set out in the Fair Work Act 2009, include:
The Fair Work Ombudsman offers employers and employees free information and advice on pay, conditions, and workplace rights and obligations under the national workplace relations system.[2] Information and guidance material in the form of fact sheets, templates and Best Practice Guides, is provided on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website[1].
The Fair Work Ombudsman also operates the Fair Work Infoline for workplace relations queries on 13 13 94. The Infoline is open Monday to Friday from 8.00 am – 6 pm (business hours in Australia) across all Australian states.
The Fair Work Ombudsman conducts targeted campaigns and audits. Targeted campaigns aim to inform employers in a specific industry of their obligations, and ensure that they understand and comply with Commonwealth workplace laws.
Those in the national workplace relations system can make a complaint to the Fair Work Ombudsman regarding discrimination in the workplace, or infringements relating to wages, conditions and other workplace rights.
Fair Work Inspectors generally start an investigation once a complaint has been made. If a contravention is identified then the severity of the complaint, the degree of cupability and the history of complaints against the alleged wrongdoer, the level of public concern, and the impact of the alleged contravention determines the course of action taken by the Fair Work Ombudsman.[3] These actions can range from issuing a letter of caution to initiating proceedings on behalf of the complainant in the Fair Work Division of the Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Court where a civil penalty may be sought against the alleged wrongdoer.[4] In most circumstances an outcome of voluntary compliance is achieved which involves the alleged wrongdoer rectifying any contraventions that have occurred (e.g. providing back payment of unpaid wages and entitlements)[5].
Fair Work Online [2] Fair Work Australia [3]