The Labor Government's industrial relations reforms, passed through parliament last week, became law at midnight last night.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions said the move was the first step in restoring the rights of Australian workers.

“The passage of the Rudd Labor Government's legislation is an historic step towards burying WorkChoices, but the job is not over yet," ACTU secretary Jeff Lawrence said.

“Unions will continue to campaign for the complete dismantling of WorkChoices."

A Senate report tabled last week showed that thousands of Australian workers lost pay and conditions under WorkChoices AWAs through the loss of public holiday pay, annual leave loading, shift allowances, overtime pay, penalty rates, redundancy pay and other conditions.

The figures showed:

• Nine in 10 workers lost at least one formerly protected award condition under WorkChoices AWAs;
• Three-quarters of AWAs did not provide workers a guaranteed wage rise over the life of the agreement, which could last up to five years; and
• Almost one in three workers lost their work break entitlements.