Permitted matters

Permitted matters in an enterprise agreement are the range of topics and issues that are legally allowed to be discussed and included in these agreements. These might include the terms of the employment relationship, policies on wage deductions, and procedures for how the agreement is implemented and operates. The scope of these matters is to ensure that the agreements are comprehensive, fair, and comply with legal standards.

What permitted matters cover

Under section 172 of the Fair Work Act, an enterprise agreement can deal with matters pertaining to the relationship between the employer and employees, or between the employer and the union, deductions from wages for any purpose an employee authorises, and how the agreement will operate. It must include a flexibility term, a consultation term and a dispute settlement term, and it cannot contain unlawful terms. For example, terms about wages, rosters, leave and redundancy are permitted matters, but a term requiring the business to fund a political campaign is not.

Read our guide to enterprise agreements and see unlawful terms.