Australia drafts noncompete ban for workers earning up to A$190,100
Australia has drafted a ban on noncompete clauses for employees earning no more than A$190,100 a year. Casual employees and pieceworkers are covered regardless of earnings.
The bill would also ban coworker nonsolicitation clauses and bring no-poach and wage-fixing agreements between businesses into federal cartel law. The cartel additions include limited exceptions for secondments, labour hire and professional sporting drafts.
Nothing has changed yet.
If Parliament passes the bill, the Fair Work changes would begin on the first quarter date after royal assent. Existing restraints would continue unless the employment arrangement is varied. Civil penalties for putting a banned term into a new or varied contract would start six months later.
Consultation closes on October 2.
