PurposeThis is a research assignment. The aim of this task is for students to examine and develop a comprehensiveunderstanding of select aspects of

Description

PurposeThis is a research assignment. The aim of this task is for students to examine and develop a comprehensiveunderstanding of select aspects of the legislation enacted for the purpose of regulating Australian workplacerelations. The assignment requires students to use discipline-specific academic literature and otherauthoritative sources (for example policy statements or submissions to government-established inquiries) tocritically evaluate the operation and impact of the legislation in the modern Australian employment context.This task provides you with opportunities to learn the knowledge (GLO1 and ULO1 & ULO4) and skills (GLO 2& GLO 4 and ULO1 & ULO2) required in the study and practice of workplace relations in Australianorganisations. By completing this task, you will develop your skills in researching, understanding, applying,evaluating, and presenting information required of business professionals.Context/ScenarioFor this task, assume you are a workplace relations practitioner. The Managing Director of yourorganisation has requested that you prepare and submit a written analysis of recent amendments tothe Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), resulting from the enactment of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment(Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 which received Royal Assent on 6 December 2022, which aim toimprove gender equality, and their potential consequence for employers and employees.

Specific RequirementsSetting the scene:The historic Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Secure Jobs, BetterPay Act) passed Parliament on 2 December 2022. It introduced the most significant and wide-rangingchanges to Australias workplace relations framework since the introduction of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)(Fair Work Act).The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Tony Burke, made it clear at the time that improvinggender equality was a key aim of the legislative reforms enacted with the passing of the Secure Jobs, BetterPay Act, which he argued would:

Help close the 14.1 per cent gender pay gap and protect women in the workplace by: putting genderequity at the heart of the Fair Work Commissions decision-making; boosting the Commissions genderpay gap expertise; banning pay secrecy clauses; expanding access to flexible work arrangements; andexpressly prohibiting sexual harassment in the Fair Work Act.The Hon Tony Burke MP (2022) Delivering secure jobs, better pay and a fairer system, Media Release 27October

The Assessment Task:

In the context of the background information presented above, students are to research and write ananalytical essay which uses relevant employment relations (ER)/industrial relations (IR) theory and /ordiscipline specific knowledge/expert opinion , empirical research evidence and other authoritative sources(policy statements, campaign publications, submissions to government inquiries and industrial tribunals,annual reports, informed media and academic commentary) to present a written critical analysis of thefollowing questions:

With reference to known gender equality outcomes and trends in Australia prior to the enactment ofthe Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act, discuss the Government s rationale for prioritising improvements togender equality in their recent reforms to the Fair Work Act.

Describe the reforms to the Fair Work Act * enacted by the Albanese-led Federal ALP Government,with the enactment of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act in December 2022, which were intended toimprove gender equality outcomes in Australia, and how they are intended to do so.

Does the international evidence indicate that these reforms to the Fair Work Act 2009 will beeffective in improving gender equality outcomes for Australian workers?

With reference to the arguments put forward by employer associations on behalf of employers andthe Australian trade union movement on behalf of workers, what are the potential consequences ofthese reforms for the two sides of industry employers and employees? Are these argumentsevidence based or driven by the frames of reference (refer to Foxs (1974) frames of reference (Topic1)) of the employer associations and trade unions chosen for discussion?

Presentation:

A professional-looking document builds credibility.Your essay should be reader-friendly, so please ensure it:o has a title page (which lists the unit code and title; assessment task title; student id number andname; and word count).o is written in essay format.o is in 12pt font.o is 1.5 or double spaced with 2 cm margins on each side.o has numbered pages.o uses correct in-text referencing (APA).o includes a reference list which is correctly formatted (APA) and begins on a new page.

The learning outcomes that are aligned to this assessment task are:

Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs)

Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs)

ULO 1 Investigate the theories and concepts of employment relations

GLO1: Discipline specific knowledgeGLO2: CommunicationGLO4: Critical thinking

ULO 4 Analyse how the Fair Work Act 2009 regulatesemployment relations

GLO1: Discipline specific knowledgeGLO2: CommunicationGLO4: Critical thinking