Managing farm labour can be a very convoluted and complex issue for any business and many of the complexities were cleared up for the 25 farmers who attended to find out their rights and responsibilities as an employer.

The workshop was presented by Carole Baetge , Manager Education and Advisory Services, along with Ruth Crow , Senior Education Officer with the Department of Commerce, Labour Relations.

Local speaker, Tara Vermeersch from “Practical Employee Relations” also shared her expertise in legislative compliance, employee disciplinary matters and the drafting of workplace policies and employee contracts.

The workshop was a joint initiative between SEPWA and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and it was sponsored by the Department of Commerce who was contracted by the Fair Work Ombudsman to deliver information on the national industrial relations system.

For more information you can go to: http://www.fairwork.gov.au/pages/default.aspx.