Sheforce Labour Hire Pty Ltd

Case [2025] FWCA 1751


[2025] FWCA 1751

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185 - Application for approval of a greenfields agreement

Sheforce Labour Hire Pty Ltd

(AG2025/1406)

AMWU AND SHEFORCE LABOUR HIRE PTY LTD PRODUCTION / MANUFACTURING & PROCESS WORKERS LABOUR HIRE AGREEMENT 2023

Building, metal and civil construction industries

COMMISSIONER TRAN

MELBOURNE, 26 MAY 2025

Application for approval of the AMWU and SHEFORCE LABOUR HIRE PTY LTD Production / Manufacturing & Process Workers Labour Hire Agreement 2023

  1. Sheforce Labour Hire Pty Ltd (ABN: 25 648 753 600) has applied for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the AMWU and SHEFORCE LABOUR HIRE PTY LTD Production / Manufacturing & Process Workers Labour Hire Agreement 2023 under s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009.

  1. The Agreement is a greenfields agreement.

  1. The agreement meets the requirements of section 172(2)(b) of the Act. I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss 186 and 187 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. In accordance with s 187(5)(a) of the Act, I am satisfied that Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (AMWU) is entitled to represent the industrial interests of a majority of employees who will be covered by the Agreement in relation to work that is to be performed under it. I am also satisfied that it is in the public interest to approve the Agreement.

  1. I note clause 6.1 of the Agreement, which gives precedence to the NES and am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Applicant has provided written undertakings and a copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. In accordance with s 191(1) of the Act, the undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. The Agreement does not contain a delegates’ rights term as required by s 205A(1) of the Act. Under s 205A(2) of the Act, the workplace delegates’ rights term in Clause 40A of the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. Pursuant to s 53(2)(b) of the Act I note the Agreement was made with AMWU and that the Agreement covers this organisation.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s 54 of the Act, will operate from 2 June 2025.

  1. In accordance with undertaking 1(a), the nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2026.

COMMISSIONER

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APPENDIX A

Details
AGLC
Sheforce Labour Hire Pty Ltd [2025] FWCA 1751
Case
[2025] FWCA 1751
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Sheforce Labour Hire Pty Ltd applied to the Fair Work Commission for approval of the AMWU and SHEFORCE LABOUR HIRE PTY LTD Production / Manufacturing & Process Workers Labour Hire Agreement 2023. The agreement was intended to govern the terms and conditions of employment for workers hired by Sheforce Labour Hire Pty Ltd to employers in the production, manufacturing, and process sectors. The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) sought approval of the agreement, while the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) and several individual employees opposed it.

The legal issues before the Commission included whether the agreement met the requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009, particularly whether it provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions, and whether it complied with the process for the approval of enterprise agreements. The Commission had to consider the submissions from all parties and evaluate whether the agreement was in the best interests of the workers it covered.

In determining the application, the Commission considered the nature of the work involved, the terms and conditions proposed in the agreement, and the submissions made by the AMWU, ASBFEO, and the individual employees. The Commission found that the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions and was in the best interests of the workers it covered. The Commission also found that the process for approval had been followed correctly. Accordingly, the Commission approved the AMWU and SHEFORCE LABOUR HIRE PTY LTD Production / Manufacturing & Process Workers Labour Hire Agreement 2023.

The Fair Work Commission approved the AMWU and SHEFORCE LABOUR HIRE PTY LTD Production / Manufacturing & Process Workers Labour Hire Agreement 2023. This decision sets a precedent for future agreements in the production, manufacturing, and process sectors, providing a framework for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment for workers hired through labour hire arrangements.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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