New protections and minimum standards for all Australian Workers

New protections and minimum standards for all Australian workers from 1 January 2010 From 1 January, all Australian workers will be protected by a strong safety net of 10 minimum standards, that cannot be taken away. These standards are particularly important for young and vulnerable workers.

In addition, modern awards will take effect from 1 January which will establish minimum wages, hours of work, superannuation, and other arrangements for hundreds of thousands of workers.

These new protections build on the better rights delivered by the Fair Work Act, which came into operation on 1 July and replaced WorkChoices.

The Fair Work laws give workers stronger rights to negotiate their wages and conditions and to have a say in their workplace. They will safeguard the rights of workers to be represented by a union and to bargain collectively for safe, secure and satisfying work. And they improve protection from unfair dismissal for more than 3 million workers.

All these new rights are the result of the successful Your Rights at Work community campaign, which was spearheaded by the ACTU and unions.

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