This note is not part of the order, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This order, which comes into force on 14 December 2012, modifies and extends the operation of the Sleepover Wages (Settlement) Act 2011 (the Act) to give effect to a settlement agreement reached between Howard Homes Limited and certain of its employees. The settlement relates to the payment of wages to employees who are permitted to sleep overnight at their workplace while on duty (sleepover wages).

The Act implements a settlement of litigation between Idea Services Limited and Timata Hou Limited and their employees (the Idea settlement) relating to the payment of sleepover wages. Subpart 1 of Part 2 of the Act extinguishes certain claims for sleepover wages in the health and disability sector, and subpart 2 of Part 2 of the Act implements the terms of the Idea settlement.

Subpart 1 of Part 2 of the Act already applies to Howard Homes Limited, because it applies to all employers in the health and disability sector funded through Vote Health. It extinguishes claims relating to sleepovers performed before the Act commenced, if those claims were lodged after 5 pm on 2 September 2011. Claims filed before that time are preserved. Section 9 of the Act extinguishes claims by employees of Idea Services Limited and Timata Hou Limited for sleepover wages. It is not necessary to extend the application of this section to Howard Homes Limited and its employees, as no employees lodged claims regarding sleepover wages before the specified time.

Clause 5 extends the effect of subpart 2 of Part 2 of the Act (which implements the Idea settlement) to Howard Homes Limited and its employees, but with certain modifications that are set out in clauses 6 to 8.

Clause 6 modifies section 19 of the Act, which sets out how back wages for sleepovers must be calculated. The formula in section 19 involves multiplying the applicable minimum hourly rate by 9, which represents the number of hours of a sleepover performed by employees of Idea Services Limited and Timata Hou Limited. The formula in section 19 is amended so that the applicable minimum hourly rate will instead be multiplied by 10 to represent the number of hours of a sleepover performed by employees of Howard Homes Limited.

Sections 21 and 22 of the Act provide for a staged progression towards the minimum hourly wage payable under the Minimum Wage Act 1983. Clause 7 modifies section 21 of the Act, which sets out an employee’s entitlements for sleepovers performed between 1 July 2011 and 17 October 2011 (being the date immediately before commencement of the Act), and when those entitlements must be paid. The modification provides that the amount due to employees of Howard Homes Limited for sleepovers performed during this time must be paid no later than 2 months after the date of commencement of this order. Section 28(c) of the Act permits this modification only if the relevant Minister is satisfied that the proposed period has been agreed to by a simple majority of the employer’s employees. The Minister has indicated that he is so satisfied.

Clause 8 modifies section 22(1) of the Act, which sets out how sleepover wages are to be calculated for sleepovers performed after commencement of the Act by those employees to whom subpart 2 of Part 2 of the Act applies. The section implements a staged progression towards payment of the full minimum hourly wage payable under the Minimum Wage Act 1983. Under clause 8, for sleepovers performed on or after 18 October 2011, an employee of Howard Homes Limited will be entitled to be paid either the rate that is specified in the Act for the relevant period of time or the amount the employee would have received immediately before the date of commencement of this order, whichever is greater.