Two different industrial relations systems operate in Western Australia, the state system and the national fair work system. Which one covers you depends on the type of structure of your employer’s business.

A particular type of job or occupation can have different pay rates and working arrangements in the different systems, so working out which covers your job is essential. For example, a hairdresser working for an employer in the state system has different pay rates to a hairdresser in the national system.

  State system

The state system includes businesses and organisations (and their employees) that operate as:

• sole traders (e.g. Jane Smith trading as Jane’s Café)
• unincorporated partnerships (e.g. Jane and Bob Smith trading as Jane’s Café)
• unincorporated trust arrangements (e.g. Jane and Bob Smith as trustees for the Smith Family Trust trading as Jane’s Café)
• incorporated associations and other not-for-profit organisations that are not trading or financial corporations.

 National system

The national system covers businesses and organisations (and their employees) that operate as:

• Pty Ltd businesses that are trading or financial corporations (e.g. Smith Pty Ltd trading as Jane’s Café)
• incorporated partnerships (e.g. Smith Pty Ltd and Bob Smith trading as Jane's Café) 
• incorporated trust arrangements (e.g. Smith Pty Ltd as trustee for the Smith Family Trust trading as Jane's Café)
• incorporated associations and other not-for-profit organisations that are trading or financial corporations.

 Not sure? Ask Wageline

• Ring the Wageline call centre on 1300 655 266.
• Tell Wageline the name of the business and Wageline can do a business search over the phone to help work out which industrial relations system covers your job. ​

Need more information?

Wageline's Guide to who is in the WA state system page has more information on which types of businesses and organisations are in the state system. 

Next page - Where to get the right information on pay rates