Outworkers

Outworkers are contractors or employees who perform their work at home or at a place that wouldn’t normally be thought of as a business premises. Outworkers are common in the textile, clothing or footwear industry.

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Employee entitlements for outworkers

Outworkers have to get at least the:

Awards or registered agreements may also have other minimum conditions for outworkers.

Outworker terms in registered agreements have to be at least as good as the conditions in the relevant award. Award conditions for outworkers in the clothing, textile and footwear industry still apply even when there’s a registered agreement in place.

If an award or agreement doesn’t contain outworker terms, then the outworker gets the same conditions as any other employee.

Find more information on workplace rights and responsibilities at Find help for – Outworkers. 

Outworkers in the clothing, textile and footwear industry

Outworkers in the clothing, textile and footwear industry are covered by the Textile Award. All outworkers covered by the Textile Award have to be given an information sheet in Schedule F of the award which sets out outworker:

  • pay rates
  • hours of work
  • leave and public holidays.

For more information on outworker pay rates, hours of work, leave and public holiday entitlements, go to Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Associated Industries Award 2010 [MA000017] schedule F.

Best practice tip

Outworkers should keep records every time they receive work. Employers also have to keep certain records.

For outworkers in the clothing, textile and footwear industry check schedule F in the Textile Award for more information.

Tools and resources

Related information