THE introduction of a minimum wage law could result in all employees, no matter how little they work, needing a written contract.

Rachel Richardson (pictured), associate in the employment team at Carey Olsen, has identified the requirement as a consequence of the legislation’s expected introduction later this year.

‘As an indirect result of the sex discrimination legislation, the minimum wage legislation is expected to repeal the requirement that employees need to have 15 hours’ service per week before they can demand written terms of employment.

‘The new laws will require that all employees have a full contract of employment regardless of how many hours they work. As more women than men work part time, the current 15-hour benchmark is potentially discriminatory against women.

‘Employers will now need to consider providing contracts for all of their employees, even those that only work a few hours a week.’