Basics of Working in Sydney

Sydney serves as Australia’s largest financial centre which produces almost ten percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. Nearly half of its total workforce are foreign-born which means that expats are about to land a career in one of the most culturally diverse work environment in New South Whales. 

The secret behind Sydney’s large population is not just its natural beauty but also because of its reputation for providing high paying jobs not just to locals but to expats as well. When deciding to start searching for a job in this prosperous city, working expats must keep in mind some of the important factors below to ensure that they’ll have a smooth sailing career abroad. 

Tax File Number and Superannuation 

Aside from a valid work permit, expats must also secure a Tax File Number before working in Sydney. TFN will serve as their Australian identification and personal reference number when submitting their income tax returns. Once a foreign assignee obtains a TFN, they need to take part in Australia’s national pension scheme called Superannuation. By law, all workers foreign or domestic, who are between the ages of 18 and 70 must contribute a minimum of AUD$450 every calendar month. Expats who are on short term assignments or are not planning on permanently residing in Sydney are allowed to withdraw their contributions given as long as they meet the necessary requirements. 

Work Schedule 

Work schedule in Sydney vary with every employer and sector but generally, employees should have a total of 38 working hours per week or 7.6 hours per day. Office workers usually start their day at 8:30 am and end it at around 5:30 pm while blue-collar workers’ daily schedule is from 7 or 8 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. Employees are also eligible for at least half an hour meal break after working for five continuous hours. Any excess time rendered for work beyond the 38hours/ week is considered as overtime and is usually paid 1.5 times the regular daily rate for the first three hours. 

Holidays 

Below is the list of all national holidays that are observed in Sydney: