Workplace Relations

Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy 2023

The Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy 2023 (Policy) outlines the Government’s plan for APS-wide bargaining in the APS.

It is comprised of two parts:

• Part 1 of the Policy applies to agencies and their employees engaged under the Public Service Act 1999 (i.e. Australian Public Service (APS) agencies and their employees) and is referred to as the “APS Policy”; and
• Part 2 applies to Commonwealth agencies that engage staff under enabling legislation other than the Public Service Act 1999 and their employees (i.e. non-APS agencies and their employees) and is referred to as the “Non-APS Policy”.

APS Policy

The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has consulted with APS agencies and unions to develop the Government endorsed principles and objectives for APS-wide bargaining which inform the Policy.

The Policy applies to APS agencies and APS to Executive Level employees engaged under Public Service Act 1999. Arrangements for SES and equivalent employee classifications will not be covered by agency-level enterprise agreements. The Policy does cover SES employees, and links their pay increases to the APS-wide pay offer.

Non-APS Policy

The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has consulted with non-APS agencies to develop the non-APS Policy.

Under the policy, non-APS agencies and employees will be supported to engage in agency-level bargaining, differing from the APS approach to developing common conditions. Non-APS agencies will have the opportunity to bargain to replace enterprise agreements past their nominal expiry date to ensure arrangements meet the needs of agencies and employees.

Download

You can download and read the full Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy here.

Public Sector Interim Workplace Arrangements 2022

The Public Sector Interim Workplace Arrangements 2022 remain in place until 31 August 2023.

The Interim Arrangements were the first step in the Government’s broader plan to improve the public sector. This includes by working to reduce the fragmentation of pay and conditions over time and by realising the benefits that would result from genuine service wide negotiations on common terms and conditions.

The Interim Arrangements provide a one-off pay increase of 3 per cent per annum to all employees. This increase will apply to pay increases due between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 under both new and existing workplace arrangements.

Questions may be directed to workplacerelations@apsc.gov.au.

Family and Domestic Violence support

Information about how agencies can support employees affected by family and domestic violence and the APS Domestic and Family Violence Policy Framework template.

APS remuneration reports

A census of APS employee remuneration is conducted annually. The census provides participating agencies with agency-specific and APS-wide data that informs their remuneration practices.

Allowance subscription service

We provide an allowance subscription service on a fee-for-service basis which updates a range of employment-related allowances.

Legislative framework

The legislative framework for employment in the APS.

Award modernisation

Information about the process of award modernisation in the Commonwealth public sector.

Enterprise Bargaining Guide

The APSC's Enterprise Bargaining Guide developed as part of the Workplace Relations Capability Program.