The Area and Scope clauses of three key state clerical awards have been updated to expand the coverage of these WA awards to a broader range of clerical employees and their employers. The three awards are: 

• Clerks (Commercial, Social and Professional Services) Award
• Clerks (Wholesale and Retail Establishments) Award
• Clerks (Hotels, Motels and Clubs) Award

These changes, which are effective from 19 December 2023, were made as part of a process being undertaken by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission to update the scope of a number of private sector WA awards.

As these changes extend the coverage of the awards to some business and their employees who were not previously covered by any WA award, and these employers will need to ensure working arrangements and pay rates align with the requirements of the relevant WA award.

The WA award summaries for all three awards are available at www.demirs.wa.gov.au/award-summaries

Clerks (Commercial, Social and Professional Services) Award (Clerks CSP Award)

The key change to the coverage of the Clerks CSP Award is that it is now a broad-based occupational award and applies to all private sector clerical employees who are not currently covered by another WA award. The previous scope clause gave coverage only to employees who were employed by certain types of businesses. 

The update also changes the area clause, so that the Clerks CSP Award no longer excludes employees working in certain remote geographic locations within WA. 

Other amendments to the area and scope clauses ensure that the award:

• applies to clerical workers working for labour hire organisations;
• does not apply to employers and employees in the national industrial relations system; and
• applies to employers who are “connected to the State of Western Australia” and their employees while performing work covered by the award.

Clerks (Wholesale and Retail Establishments) Award (Clerks W&R Award)

The key change to the coverage of the Clerks W&R Award is update to the scope provisions so that the award applies to clerical employees working for any type of wholesale or retail establishment, regardless of the type of good being sold. The previous scope clause gave coverage only to employees who were employed by businesses selling particular types of goods.

The update also changes the area clause, so that the Clerks W&R Award no longer excludes employees working in certain remote geographic locations within WA. 

Other amendments to the area and scope clauses ensure that the award:

• applies to clerical workers working for labour hire organisations;
• does not apply to employers and employees in the national industrial relations system; and
• applies to employers who are “connected to the State of Western Australia” and their employees while performing work covered by the award.

Clerks (Hotels, Motels and Clubs) Award (Clerks HMC Award)

The key change to the coverage of the Clerks HMC award is that it now applies to employees engaged in clerical work in the “hospitality industry”, rather than the industry of “Hotel, Motel, Club and Service Flats”. The definition of the hospitality industry is broader than Hotel, Motel, Club and Service Flats, and encompasses other accommodation, liquor and tourist establishments.  

The update also changes the area clause, so that the Clerks HMC award no longer excludes employees working in certain remote geographic locations within WA. 

Other amendments to the area and scope clauses ensure that the award:

• applies to clerical workers working for labour hire organisations;
• does not apply to employers and employees in the national industrial relations system; and
• applies to employers who are “connected to the State of Western Australia” and their employees while performing work covered by the award.