Work record for outworker employees – Textile, clothing and

footwear industry
You can use this template to make a work record for an outworker under Schedule F of the Textile, Clothing,
Footwear and Associated Industries Award 2010 (the Textile Award). A work record is also referred to as a
Garment Specification Sheet.
This template has been colour coded to help you complete it accurately. You simply need to replace the red <
> writing with what applies to your outworker and situation. Explanatory information is shown in blue italics to
assist you and should be deleted once you have completed the record.
For more information visit www.fairwork.gov.au/clothing or contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.

Steps for preparing a work record in the textile, clothing and footwear
industry
Step 1: Check the Textile Award
The Textile Award contains special provisions for outworkers. You should check Schedule F of the Textile
Award to make sure you understand your obligations to outworkers.
You must be registered with the Board of Reference before making a work record with an outworker. You
must also enter into a written agreement with the outworker. Information about registering with the Board of
Reference and employing outworkers can be found at www.fairwork.gov.au/clothing.
Step 2: Talk to your outworker
If you wish to enter into a work record with an outworker, you should meet with them to discuss the details of
the work to be performed, the Time Standard and the number of hours needed to complete the work.
When calculating the Time Standard and the hours required to complete the work, remember that an
outworker must receive a rate that is comparable to that of an in-house employee.
Step 3: Create your work record
The work record must be created prior to the commencement of work.
Work records must be in writing and signed by you and the outworker. You must create a new work record
every time you agree with an outworker to have work performed for your business.
Step 4: Provide the work record to the outworker and keep a copy for your records
You must provide the outworker with a copy of the work record.
Once you have both signed the work record, provide a copy to the outworker and keep a copy as part of your
time and wages records.
The work record should be reconciled with the outworker’s timesheet once the work has been finished. The
actual hours worked may mean that the payment due to the outworker will change. For example, they may
have worked weekends or overtime hours.
Important notes relating to work records:
 The amount paid to the outworker must be sufficient to meet the relevant hourly rates contained within the
Textile Award. Note: the Appendix to Schedule F specifies that outworkers must receive at least the Level
2 rate of pay.
 The following clauses of the Textile Award set out the rates of pay an outworker is entitled to:
- Schedule F, Clause F.5.4 (b)(i) – the ‘ordinary minute rate’;
- Schedule F, Clause F.5.4 (b)(ii) – overtime;
- Schedule F, Clause F.5.4 (b)(iii) – weekend and public holidays; and
- Schedule F, Clause F.5.4 (b)(iv) – unworked public holidays.
 To calculate the ‘ordinary minute rate’ you must identify the outworker’s classification and weekly rate of
pay (clause 20). The weekly rate should then be divided by 2280.
 Consideration should be given to whether the outworker can complete the work within the required
timeframes. If not, you must consider whether to approve additional hours or whether the timeframes
need to be amended.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is committed to providing you with advice that you can rely on.
The information contained in this template is general in nature. If you are unsure about how it applies to your situation you can call our
Infoline on 13 13 94 or speak with a union, industry association or a workplace relations professional.
Work record

Principal details
Name:

Address:

ABN/ACN or Registered Business Number:

:
Board of Reference registration number:

Outworker details
Name:

Address:

Address/es where work will be performed:

Address 1:

Address 2:

Start time of work: End time of work:

Start date of work: End date of work

Description of work:

Describe the nature of the work required and the garments, articles or materials to be worked on.
Note: this should include diagrams where available and details of the type of garments or articles, seam type,
fabric type, manner of construction and finishing.
Work detail
Garments, articles or materials delivery and pickup
Delivery time: Pick up time:
Delivery date: Pick up date:

Garments, articles or materials details

Type of Number Time Standard Number of Ordinary hours Price to be
garment, of items for each working hours and days paid for each
article or garment, article needed to required to garment,
material or material complete the complete work article or
work material
<number of
<number of
<number> ordinary
e.g. Shirt, items by the
<number minutes per hours> hours
Pants, Bag, Time <$0.00>
required> <garment/article over
etc. Standard>
/material> <number of
hours
days> days

Time Standard details

The Time Standard must provide the outworker with a reasonable amount of time (including sewing time) for
making each item. When entering details into the field below, you must ensure that the information
demonstrates how you calculated each Time Standard. The calculation must take into account the longer time
required for completing the work at the outworker site as well as other tasks which may need to be completed.
This could include (but is not limited to) cutting, pressing, bundling, sorting and packing.

Payment details
The amount paid to the outworker must be sufficient to meet the relevant hourly rates contained within the
Award. A reconciliation must be performed after the work has been finished as the actual hours worked may
be different to those in the work record.

Amount to be paid to outworker: <$0.00>

Agreement details
Name of outworker:

Signature of outworker: _____________________________________________________ Date:_________ / ___________ / ___________

Name of manager/supervisor:

Signature of manager/supervisor: _______________________________________ Date:_________ / ___________ / ___________