Industrial Relations

The Wine Grape Council of South Australia contracted the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) to prepare the Employment Handbook as a resource for its members so that they are provided with important information regarding key aspects related to employment issues and practices.

The Employment Handbook is a guide to assist wine grape growers in identifying the issues that they must consider and address as an employer. Some issues will require addressing before you employ, others can be in a state of continuous development, some may be useful to consider down the track but all of these issues are highlighted to assist you in knowing your obligations and therefore assist you to manage what will probably be your most important asset and a significant cost to your business.

The following topics, plus many others, are discussed in the Employment Handbook:

• Do I have to comply with Federal or State industrial relations laws?
• What is the difference between a “constitutional” and “non-constitutional” corporation? What does this mean to me?
• What do I need to consider if employing someone?
• Am I covered by an “award” or am I “award free”?
• How much do I need to pay someone? What if they are a casual?
• How do I go about hiring someone?
• What paperwork is involved?
• What happens when someone leaves, i.e. resignation or termination of employment?

It is important and vital to the health of your business, that you manage human resources effectively and efficiently.

The Employment Handbook is set out in three parts:

Part 1
Provides an overview of the current industrial relations systems in Australian and identifies what the key characteristics are of a “Constitutional Corporation” and a "Non-Constitutional Corporation”. This is both necessary and important because each employer can only be one or the other.  Depending on which one you are then determines which laws or jurisdiction (state or federal) applies to your employees.

This part explains how an employer determines what laws they are covered by, being either the:

• Federal Industrial Relations System; OR
  
• South Australian (State) Industrial Relations System.

Part 2
Provides information for employers who are Constitutional Corporations and therefore covered by the Federal Industrial Relations System.

Part 3
Provides information for employers who are Non-Constitutional Corporations and therefore covered by the South Australian (State) Industrial Relations System.

The information that was here has been removed following changes effective July 1st 2010. This will be updated in due course.