Important information for the building and construction industry
Published 27 October 2022 | Updated 9 November 2022
From 10 November 2022, the Australian Building and Construction Commission’s (ABCC) role enforcing the Fair Work Act 2009 in the commercial building and construction industry has transferred to the Fair Work Ombudsman (that’s us).
On this page:
- What’s changed
- Workplace rights and obligations in the commercial building and construction industry
- Who to contact about current ABCC matters
- Keep up to date
- Related information
What’s changed
From 10 November 2022, certain functions and responsibilities under the Fair Work Act that were carried out by the ABCC for the commercial building industry have transferred to us.
Our role is to promote harmonious, productive, cooperative and compliant workplace relations in Australia. Our responsibilities are set by the Fair Work Act. For information about our role and functions, visit Our role and purpose.
Find out more about the ABCC’s abolition and role in the interim on their website.
Workplace rights and obligations in the commercial building and construction industry
Employers and employees in the commercial building and construction industry can find free tools and information about workplace rights and obligations on this website.
We have information on:
- Pay and entitlements including leave, public holidays, hours of work, breaks and rosters, allowances, penalty rates and other payments
- Right of entry
- General protections at work including protection from discrimination
- The role of unions and union membership
- Industrial action including information about payment during industrial action (also known as strike pay)
- Ending employment
- the Building and Construction General On-Site Award
- Independent contractors including information about sham contracting
- COVID-19 information
- Tools and resources.
You can use our industry filters available on various pages to find tailored information. Look for these boxes on our website and select the building and construction industry from the drop-down menu.
We also have general information about enterprise agreements, who they apply to and how they’re made. For more information, visit Agreements. To find an enterprise or registered agreement that applies to your workplace, visit Fair Work Commission – Find an agreement.
Have a workplace problem?
Problems can happen in any workplace. We have tools and information to help employers and employees resolve problems at work.
Visit Workplace problems for information, tools and resources:
- to help you prevent problems at work
- about common workplace problems
- about fixing workplace problems, including how to get help and report issues anonymously.
Who to contact about current ABCC matters
If you have a current matter that is being investigated by the ABCC, you will be advised when it has been transferred to us. Until then, you can continue to discuss your matter with your current ABCC contact officer.
You can also contact the ABCC for advice and assistance with:
- an existing ABCC legal proceeding
- an unlawful picket
- any issue related to the Building Code 2013
- any issue related to the amended Building Code 2016
- any issue related to an examination you have attended as a witness including reimbursement of witness expenses.
Keep up to date
For news and updates about important workplace issues relevant to you, subscribe to our email updates. You can also follow us on social media.
Related information
Read more about the changes:
