The Federal Government’s Protecting Vulnerable Workers Bill received the Royal Assent on 14 September 2017. With the exception of the provisions in relation to responsible franchisors (which commence on 27 October 2017), the Fair Work Amendment (Protection of Vulnerable Workers) Act 2017 (Cth) (Act) commenced on Friday 15 September 2017.

We recommend that franchisors take appropriate steps to protect their businesses. In this article, we examine what the amendments mean for franchisors and provide recommendations for a carefully considered approach to assist franchisors in complying with the new laws while continuing to foster a collaborative relationship between them and their franchisees.