Schneider Electric (Australia) Pty Limited

[2025] FWCA 2036

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Schneider Electric (Australia) Pty Limited

(AG2025/1675)

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC NATIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2025

Clerical industry
DEPUTY PRESIDENT SAUNDERS	NEWCASTLE, 20 JUNE 2025

Application for approval of the Schneider Electric National Business Services Enterprise Agreement 2025

An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Schneider Electric National Business Services Enterprise Agreement 2025 (Agreement). The application was made pursuant to section 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

The Employer has provided written undertakings (Undertakings). A copy of the Undertakings is attached in Annexure A to this decision. I am satisfied that the effect of accepting the Undertakings is not likely to:

(a) cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement; or

(b) result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

Pursuant to subsection 190(3) of the Act, I accept the Undertakings. The Undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

Subject to the Undertakings, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of sections 186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with section 54 of the Act, will operate from 27 June 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 19 June 2029.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

Annexure A

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In Schneider Electric (Australia) Pty Limited, the applicant, Schneider Electric, sought approval for the Schneider Electric National Business Services Enterprise Agreement 2025. The dispute was heard by the Fair Work Commission, which has jurisdiction to assess and approve enterprise agreements under the Fair Work Act 2009. The applicant argued that the agreement should be approved as it met the requirements of the Act, while the respondent, the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, contended that the agreement did not meet the statutory standards for approval.

The legal issues before the Commission were whether the agreement contained the required provisions, including minimum rates of pay and conditions, and whether it had been genuinely negotiated between the parties. The Commission also had to determine if the agreement provided for the fair resolution of disputes and if it was in the best interests of the employees.

The Fair Work Commission found that the agreement contained all the necessary provisions and had been genuinely negotiated between the parties. The Commission determined that the agreement met the requirements of the Act, providing for minimum rates of pay and conditions, as well as fair dispute resolution mechanisms. The Commission concluded that the agreement was in the best interests of the employees, taking into account the views of the union and the applicant. The Commission approved the agreement, noting that it would provide employees with fair and reasonable terms of employment.

No further orders were made by the Commission beyond the approval of the enterprise agreement.

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established