Fair Work Commission

Last updated November 2024

What is the Fair Work Commission?

The FWC has offices Australia-wide.

It is made up of the following individuals, in order of seniority:

• a President;
• two Vice Presidents (to whom the President may delegate their powers);
• Deputy Presidents; and
• Commissioners.

Acting Commissioners may also be appointed for a specified period so the FWC can perform its functions effectively, e.g. to fill a short-term vacancy or to meet a large workload.

Functions of the FWC

The FWC is entrusted with several functions under the FW Act, including:

• dealing with unfair dismissal claims (read more);
• dealing with anti-bullying claims (read more);
• dealing with anti-sexual harassment claims (read more);
• dealing with general protections claims (read more) and unlawful termination claims;
• resolving disputes about flexible work arrangements (read more);
• resolving disputes about requests to extend unpaid parental leave (read more);
• setting the national minimum wage and minimum wages in modern awards (read more);
• making, reviewing and varying modern awards (read more);
• assisting in the bargaining process for enterprise agreements (read more);
• terminating enterprise agreements (read more);
• making orders in relation to industrial action (read more);
• dealing with disputes brought to the FWC under dispute-resolution procedures of modern awards and enterprise agreements (read more);
• resolving disputes in relation to stand downs (read more);
• determining lodgments and resolving disputes in relation to right of entry permits (read more);
• making regulated labour hire arrangement orders (read more); and
• resolving disputes about the right to disconnect (read more).