Agricultural producers urged to attend Fair Work seminars

THE National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), with support from the Australian Government, is holding 90 free seminars across rural and remote Australia from 1 September 2009 to help agricultural producers understand the changes to the workplace relations laws as a result of the new Fair Work Act 2009. The NFF is providing educational materials through the Fair Work Information Booklet for Agricultural Producers and NFF Modern Agriculture Awards Fact Sheet, in addition to the seminars, so agricultural producers from all states and the Northern Territory can get first-hand information explaining the new national workplace relations laws. Agricultural producers are urged to attend the seminars to gain valuable insight into the application of the new laws for employers, particularly the practical impacts on agriculture. The changes to the Australian workplace relations laws – both those commencing from 1 July 2009 and those coming into effect from 1 January 2010 – are significant and will affect the day-to-day interaction between employers and employees. The seminars will be presented by experienced agricultural workplace relations advisors and provide the opportunity for personal, one-on-one analysis of the new laws and how they apply in an industry-specific context. The seminars are free and are open to all, however, will be focused on how the new laws operate in the agricultural sector. Areas covered include: the new National Employment Standards, unfair dismissal laws, modern awards and enterprise agreements. A list of the seminars, listed month-by-month and including locations, venues, dates and times, is available from this website at: http://www.nff.org.au/read/2472946216.html[Fair Work seminars] or the Australian Government website at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/WorkplaceRelations/newworkplacerelationslaws/Pages/default.aspx[Workplace Relations Laws]. Details on further seminars, from October 2009 through to March 2010, will be updated on the website shortly, as final arrangements are put in place. Agricultural producers unable to attend the seminars should download a copy of the Fair Work Information Booklet for Agricultural Producers and NFF Modern Agriculture Awards Fact Sheet from the NFF website or call the NFF on (02) 6273 3855 for hardcopies. To register, call the NFF on (02) 6273 3855. [ENDS]