The main difference between a registered agreement and a contract of employment in Australia is the nature and scope of their legal enforceability.
While both registered agreements and contracts of employment are legally binding, registered agreements have a higher level of legal enforceability as they are governed by the Fair Work Act 2009 and are subject to approval and registration with the Fair Work Commission.
On the other hand, contracts of employment are generally subject to contract law and may not have the same level of legal protection as registered agreements.
However, it’s important to note that both registered agreements and contracts of employment must comply with the National Employment Standards (NES) and other minimum standards prescribed by Australian employment law.