Terms of Reference

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Skills and Training will inquire and report into the operation and adequacy of the National Employment Standards (NES) under the Fair Work Act with particular reference to:

  • the objective and purpose of the NES as part of the safety net framework, as well as individual NES entitlements.

  • the extent to which the NES is fit for purpose, having regard to the changing nature of work.

  • the role of the NES in promoting the object of the Fair Work Act set out in Section 3.

  • the adequacy, relevance and coherence of existing NES entitlements.

  • the effectiveness and application of the NES, including opportunities for technical improvements.

  • the interaction between the NES and other workplace instruments, including modern awards, enterprise agreements, and individual flexibility arrangements.

  • the types of workers covered by the NES and consideration of differences in experience of the NES, including experiences of women, workers over 55, young workers, First Nations workers and workers with disability.

  • whether there are any gaps in data information about any of these matters and what action is required to address these.

  • any related matters.

 

The operation of the specific provisions amended in the following divisions are excluded from the scope of this review on the basis that separate statutory reviews either have occurred or will occur. This does not prevent broader consideration of the interaction of these provisions with other NES entitlements.

  1. Division 4 − Request for Flexible Working Arrangements

  1. Division 4A − Casual Employment

  1. Division 5, Subdivision B − Parental Leave

  1. Division 7, Subdivision CA − Family and Domestic Violence Leave.

Committee Secretariat contact:

PO Box 6021
Parliament House
CANBERRA
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 4037
employment.reps@aph.gov.au

About this inquiry

The Committee will inquire into and report on the operation and adequacy of the National Employment Standards.

Track Inquiry

Past Public Hearings

15 May 2026: Canberra
05 May 2026: Warwick Farm
01 May 2026: Carlton

more...

Inquiry Status

Submissions Closed

Accessibility

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Further information regarding accessibility can be found at www.aph.gov.au/Help/Accessibility