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The Federal Government's Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill has been introduced to parliament, and proposes to give employees more flexible work rights, while also tackling the gender pay gap, modernising enterprise bargaining, and more.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke says the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 will deliver on commitments the Government made during the Jobs and Skills Summit, which included taking immediate action on workplace flexibility.

The Bill proposes amending the Fair Work Act to expand the circumstances in which an employee can request flexible work arrangements and increase employers' obligations to discuss requests and provide reasons for refusal.

It will also empower the Fair Work Commission to resolve disputes about flexibility arrangements, including by mandatory arbitration where the employer either refuses a request or doesn't respond within 21 days. And any contravention would be subject to civil remedy provisions...