Industrial Relations Commission
The Industrial Relations Commission of South Australia, constituted by the South Australian Parliament under the Fair Work Act 1994 has a major role to play in establishing enforceable conditions of employment and in providing for the prevention and resolution of disputes between employers and employees. The Commission in its present form was originally established under the now repealed Industrial Code Amendment Act 1966. More information can be found on our history page.
The Commission has a number of jurisdictions including:
-
maintenance of certain minimum standards of employment;
-
preventing and settling disputes concerning employment related matters;
-
establishing and maintaining a minimum safety net of wages and conditions of employment in its State Award making function;
-
encouraging and scrutinising appropriate Enterprise Agreements between employers and groups of employees;
-
hearing and determining unfair dismissal applications
The Industrial Relations Commission has two principal spheres of activity and jurisdiction. Both deal with the prevention and resolution of disputes between employers and employees.
The Industrial Relations Jurisdiction
The Industrial Relations Jurisdiction establishes and maintains the safety net of award wages and conditions of employment and determines unfair dismissal applications. See our guide on Unfair Dismissals .
The Enterprise Agreement Jurisdiction
The Enterprise Agreement Jurisdiction focuses on the development and approval of enterprise agreements made between employers and employees. Its essential role is to ensure that while there is increased flexibility in employment arrangements such agreements are negotiated fairly and do not disadvantage employees when compared to their existing package of industrial award conditions. See our guide on Enterprise Agreements .
The Commission deals with matters both in formal hearings and more informally depending upon the nature of the matter and the parties involved. It also regularly conducts hearings at country locations and in work places where this is appropriate. The Fair Work Act 1994 requires that all monetary claims and claims of unfair dismissal must be first considered in a Conciliation Conference before the matter goes to trial.
The Commission is made up of presidential members and industrial commissioners. Please refer to contacts page.
The Registry is where you can lodge forms and claims or applications.
More detailed information and statistics can be found in the Annual Report.
