If you want to work during your time in Australia, you must always be abreast with certain rights you are entitled to, in terms of employment.
Your student visa poses restrictions on the maximum number of hours you can work but, your workplace rights are no different to any other worker in Australia. Employees covered by the national workplace relations system are entitled to National Employment Standards (NES) which are:-
– Maximum hours of work
– Requests for flexible working arrangements
– Parental leave and related entitlements
– Annual leave
– Personal carer’s leave and compassionate leave – Community service leave
– Long service leave
– Public holidays
– Notice of termination and redundancy pay
– The Fair Work Information Statement
Even though many of these standards apply to full-time and part- time employees only, there are some rights that are applicable to all workers, including casuals :
• Minimum wage: All workers in Australia are entitled to a minimum wage, you are allowed to be paid more than the minimum rate of pay, but it is illegal for your employer to pay you less. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay Calculator can help you work out the minimum rate of pay for your field of work.
• Pay: Employers are not permitted to asked to do unpaid trial work beyond what is reasonably required to demonstrate the skills for the job (usually not more than one shift). You must also be paid for any meetings or training you attend, as well as any extra hours you’ve worked. Your employer is required to pay you at least once a month and you should be given a pay slip within one day of being paid.
• Contracts: All employees must receive a contract or agreement, and should be given the chance to read it thoroughly. The contract should include your rate of pay, when and how often you will be paid, any penalty rates or allowances you are entitled to, when you are permitted take breaks and the notice time you need to give if you want to terminate your employment. You should never be pressured to sign anything you aren’t comfortable with.
• Unfair dismissal: You must know that it is illegal for an employee to be dismissed based on their race, colour, gender, sexual preference, marital status or because they are sick or injured. It is also illegal for an employer to fire or demote you for querying any of your workplace rights (such as your rate of pay) or for submitting a complaint or request for assistance to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
• A safe workplace free from discrimination: You should feel both physically and mentally safe at your workplace and that implies that your employer must meet Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) legislation and take steps to prevent bullying and discrimination advisable to get tips from the student services office or maybe local classmates, for suggestions.