National Employment Standards

The Bill creates 10 National Employment Standards, intended to be a "safety net" of minimum conditions. The Standards cannot be overridden by an individual contract or by an award or agreement.

The 10 minimum conditions include:

• The right to a 38 hour week with reasonable additional hours

• The right to request flexible working hours or conditions

• Up to 24 months unpaid parental leave and guaranteed return to work

• 4 weeks annual leave

• 10 days paid personal/carer's leave

• The right to unpaid leave for community service work, such as volunteer work for a State Emergency Service

• Preservation of long service leave entitlements

• Public holidays, with a limited right to request employees work on a public holiday