Expatries Network
Australia

Employment contract and termination in Australia

In Australia, the drafting of the employment contract commits the payroll for its whole duration: the language used, the form adopted and the mandatory particulars are fixed by local law, not by the practice of head office.

Termination is the moment when drafting errors are paid for. Final settlement, notice, severance and exit documents obey local rules that the payroll manager applies every month: it is that person, and not the legal department at head office, who spots a poorly drawn contract. Having the model contract reviewed by the firm that will run the payroll costs little and avoids most disputes.

The award architecture is what most disconcerts foreign employers. It is neither a European-style sector agreement nor a simple minimum wage: the instrument sets hourly loadings, allowances and minimum conditions occupation by occupation, and misapplying it is the leading cause of back-pay claims.

The complete absence of any social security clearance certificate comes as the next surprise. Compulsory retirement contributions go to private funds rather than to a public institution. The tax office's statement of tax record in fact covers both aspects, since it captures unpaid superannuation as well.

Payroll tax, finally, is a state tax, with rules and thresholds specific to each jurisdiction. A firm claiming to cover the whole of Australia should be invited to demonstrate exactly how. Verification here is correspondingly simple, and a firm that resists it has already told you something useful.

The local framework in Australia

Working languages
English
Payroll currency
AUD
European status
Outside the European Union and the European Economic Area

Points to watch in Australia

Il n'existe pas d'attestation de régularité sociale en Australie : les charges sociales à l'européenne n'existent pas, la retraite passe par la superannuation guarantee versée directement à des fonds privés et il n'y a donc aucun organisme collecteur susceptible de délivrer un quitus. Le STR de l'ATO couvre en réalité les deux volets, puisqu'il englobe la superannuation impayée. Deuxième particularité : la payroll tax est un impôt d'État, pas fédéral, avec des seuils et des taux différents dans chaque juridiction — un cabinet qui prétend couvrir toute l'Australie doit le démontrer. Enfin, se méfier de l'appellation « bookkeeper » : elle n'est pas protégée, seule l'inscription au TPB compte, et elle se vérifie en trente secondes sur le registre public.

Back to the Australia profile

You employ staff in Australia

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You run payroll in Australia

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