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Your legal rights and responsibilities


As a building industry participant, you need to understand your rights and responsibilities under workplace relations laws. See ABCC fact sheets for more detail on issues that affect your workplace.

 

Right of entry for permit holders 

The Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) provides federal right of entry permit holders with a right to enter sites for particular purposes and sets out the requirements you must comply with when on a site. 

Union membership - your right to free choice

Freedom of association protections give employees and contractors the right to choose whether or not to join a union or industrial association.

Unlawful pressure and coercion prohibited

Coercion is the application of pressure to force a party to do something that they do not want to do.

Unlawful industrial action (e.g. strikes)

Industrial action in the building industry is categorised by strikes, work bans or work stoppages by employees or employers locking employees out.

Strike Pay

In the building industry, it is illegal for employers to pay employees, and employees to accept payment, for taking unlawful strike action.

Occupational health and safety

Every worker has the right to work in a safe environment, and employers should ensure safety is their number one priority on site.

Related information

On this site

  1. ABCC fact sheets
  2. Independent contractors
  3. National Code