The Private Sector Labour Relations Division (Labour Relations) of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has a number of functions. These functions include the provision of advisory, education and compliance services for state employment laws.
The Compliance and Enforcement Policy (the Policy) sets out the principles adopted by Labour Relations to secure compliance with the following state employment laws:
- Industrial Relations Act 1979 (IR Act) and instruments made under the Act such as state awards;
- Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 (MCE Act);
- Long Service Leave Act 1958 (LSL Act); and
- Part 7 of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 (CCS Act) dealing with the employment of children in Western Australia.
The primary objectives of the Policy are to:
- ensure that employees are paid their correct entitlements under state employment laws;
- ensure that children under 15 years of age are only engaged to perform work in accordance with Part 7 of the Children and Community Services Act 2004;
- promote a level playing field for Western Australian businesses, so that businesses underpaying employees do not gain a competitive advantage over businesses doing the right thing;
- foster confidence in the community that state employment laws are taken seriously and are enforced fairly and consistently by Labour Relations.
