Australian Regional and Remote Community Services Limited
[2023] FWCA 2989
•15 SEPTEMBER 2023
| [2023] FWCA 2989 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
| DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement
Australian Regional and Remote Community Services Limited
(AG2023/3027)
AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITY SERVICES (ARRCS) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023
| Aged care industry | |
| DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASSON | MELBOURNE, 15 SEPTEMBER 2023 |
Application for approval of the Australian Regional and Remote Community Services (ARRCS) Enterprise Agreement 2023.
An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Australian Regional and Remote Community Services (ARRCS) Enterprise Agreement 2023 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Australian Regional and Remote Community Services Limited. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.
The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, which commenced operation on 6 June 2023. By reason of the transitional arrangements for the Amending Act and the notification time for the Agreement of 10 January 2023, the genuine agreement requirements for agreement approval in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023 apply to the present application. Further, as the Agreement was made on 25 August 2023 the better off overall test provisions in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act as amended on 6 June 2023 apply.
The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.
Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.
I note that clause 59.2 may be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards. Given the National Employment Standards precedence clause at clause 5 of the Agreement, I am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and the United Workers’ Union being bargaining representatives for the Agreement, have given notice under s.183 of the Act that they want the Agreement to cover them. In accordance with s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers these organisations.
The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 22 September 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 14 September 2027.
DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
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Annexure A
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