In Queensland, minimum standards of employment apply to all real estate sales people and property management employees. These standards are prescribed by the Property Sales Award and the Property Management Award. The Awards were established by the PSAQ (representing employees), in co-operation with the Real Estate Employers’ Association (REEA).

All employees covered by these Awards are required to have an employment agreement registered with the Queensland Property Industry Registry (QPIR).

The paperwork needed is:

• Schedule 1 - Application to Register Agreement and/or Opt Out; and
• an Employment Agreement (including any annexure to the Employment Agreement that may affect the employee's income).

Award Stage 2 employees Opting Out on the basis of "reasonable expectation" must also provide a written explanation (addressed to QPIR) about their work history.

The above paperwork must be completed and, within seven days, forwarded to QPIR for registration.

Commission-offset (debit/credit) or commission-only is permitted only once an agreement to that effect is registered with QPIR. Until an agreement is registered, employees are entitled to Award wages, may or may not be entitled to commission, and commission may only be offset against wages in the week the commission is paid.

An administration fee is payable for each agreement registration - half by the employee and half by the employer. To streamline matters, an employer may pay the full fee and then deduct the employee share from the employee's income.

Copies of the Awards and documentation regarding employment under these Awards can be obtained as follows . . .

More Details?

Full copy or Summary of the Awards:

• Go to Downloads, and then follow the links.

Employment Agreements:

• REIQ Real Estate Shop (phone 07 3249 7347), or
• REIQ's Realworks Live software (Realworks codes: Property Management 053, Sales 042).

Schedule 1 - Application to Register Agreement and/or Opt Out:

• REIQ Real Estate Shop (phone 07 3249 7347), or
• REIQ's Realworks Live software (Realworks codes: Property Management 056, Sales 048), or
• Click on Downloads, and then follow the links.

Help Needed?  For help with agreement registration, please call QPIR.

Note:  The PSAQ recommends that real estate employers become members of the Real Estate Employers' Association.

REEA Secretary/Treasurer, Bruce Siebenhausen, has approximately 30 years' experience representing employers in industrial relations matters, and can be contacted on 0411 208 794.  REEA can assist employers in areas where the PSAQ cannot, such as employment of clerical staff and correct procedures for termination of employment.

The REEA web site is www.reea.org.au.