The Commission, of its own motion, reviewed the Farm Employees’ Award, deferring certain proposed changes until after determination of Commission’s Own Motion v (Not Applicable) [2023] WAIRC 00901. These deferred matters included minimum hours for part-time employees and transitional provisions for implementing changes in the dairy industry. Orders were later made in Commission’s Own Motion v (Not Applicable) [2023] WAIRC 00912, expanding the scope of the Award to include dairy farm employees. 
In light of this expansion, interested parties conferred on the adjourned matters, reaching a consensus position on issues such as minimum hours for part-time dairy farm employees and transitional provisions. This consensus aimed to balance the interests of employers and employees in the industry.

Senior Commissioner Cosentino considered the interested parties’ consensus position to strike an appropriate balance between employer and employee interests. The agreed variations, outlined in the Schedule, were deemed desirable to ensure fairness to employees while facilitating efficient work organisation within the industry. These variations included new definitions related to dairy farming and revised clauses concerning the employment relationship, particularly for part-time employees in dairying. The new clauses emphasised written agreements on work patterns and minimum engagement requirements for part-time employees in the dairy sector.

 

The decision can be read here.

Decision issued Monday, 25 March 2024.