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Time and wages records
Last updated August 2023
This chapter explains your time and wages record obligations and penalties you can face for breaching them.
Where will you find your time and wages record requirements?
The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) and the Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the minimum time and wages record-keeping requirements for all national system employers.
Definition: National System Employer
A national system employer is an employer that is:
- a constitutional corporation;
- the Commonwealth;
- a Commonwealth authority;
- a body corporate incorporated in a territory; or
- a person who carries on an activity (whether of a commercial, governmental or other nature) in a territory in Australia.
A national system employer is an employer that is:
- a constitutional corporation;
- the Commonwealth;
- a Commonwealth authority;
- a body corporate incorporated in a territory; or
- a person who carries on an activity (whether of a commercial, governmental or other nature) in a territory in Australia.
Tip: Most businesses with employees within Australia (outside Western Australia) are national system employers.
Important: This chapter applies to national system employers only.
Important: If you are a non-national system employer, you may need to comply with the minimum requirements stipulated in legislation or regulations operating in your state. This is particularly the case for employers in Western Australia that are sole traders, partnerships or not trading corporations.
Tip: WA employers should check their requirements here.