MA000029

Joinery and Building Trades Award 2020

 

This Fair Work Commission consolidated modern award incorporates all amendments up to and including 27 August 2024 (PR777256 and PR777991).

Clause(s) affected by the most recent variation(s):

2—Definitions

12—Changes to casual employment status

16A—Employee right to disconnect

35—Dispute resolution

 

Table of Contents

[Varied by PR733850, PR746868, PR747563, PR750491, PR774734, PR777256, PR777991]

Part 1— Application and Operation of this Award................................................................... 4

1. Title and commencement............................................................................................. 4

2. Definitions..................................................................................................................... 4

3. The National Employment Standards and this award.................................................. 7

4. Coverage....................................................................................................................... 8

5. Individual flexibility arrangements............................................................................... 9

6. Requests for flexible working arrangements.............................................................. 11

7. Facilitative provisions................................................................................................. 11

Part 2— Types of Employment and Classifications................................................................. 12

8. Types of employment................................................................................................. 12

9. Full-time employees................................................................................................... 12

10. Part-time employees.................................................................................................. 12

11. Casual employees....................................................................................................... 13

12. Changes to casual employment status....................................................................... 14

13. Apprentices................................................................................................................. 14

14. Classifications............................................................................................................. 19

15. Employer and employee duties.................................................................................. 19

Part 3— Hours of Work............................................................................................................ 20

16. Ordinary hours of work.............................................................................................. 20

16A. Employee right to disconnect..................................................................................... 20

17. Rostering arrangements—day workers...................................................................... 21

18. Breaks......................................................................................................................... 22

Part 4— Wages and Allowances.............................................................................................. 23

19. Minimum rates........................................................................................................... 23

20. Payment of wages....................................................................................................... 30

21. Allowances.................................................................................................................. 31

22. Accident pay............................................................................................................... 44

23. Superannuation.......................................................................................................... 46

Part 5— Overtime and Penalty Rates...................................................................................... 48

24. Overtime..................................................................................................................... 48

25. Shiftworkers................................................................................................................ 54

26. Alternative working arrangement.............................................................................. 56

Part 6— Leave and Public Holidays......................................................................................... 57

27. Annual leave............................................................................................................... 57

28. Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave....................................................... 63

29. Parental leave and related entitlements.................................................................... 63

30. Community service leave............................................................................................ 63

31. Family and domestic violence leave........................................................................... 64

32. Public holidays............................................................................................................ 64

Part 7— Workplace Delegates, Consultation and Dispute Resolution................................... 64

32A. Workplace delegates’ rights....................................................................................... 64

33. Consultation about major workplace change............................................................ 68

34. Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work........................................... 69

35. Dispute resolution...................................................................................................... 70

Part 8— Termination of Employment and Redundancy......................................................... 71

36. Termination of employment....................................................................................... 71

37. Redundancy................................................................................................................ 72

Schedule A —Classification Definitions................................................................................... 76

Schedule B —Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay...................................................................... 86

Schedule C —Summary of Monetary Allowances................................................................. 121

Schedule D —School-based Apprentices............................................................................... 127

Schedule E —National Training Wage................................................................................... 129

Schedule F —Supported Wage System.................................................................................. 144

Schedule G —Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance................................................ 148

Schedule H —Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave............................................................ 150

Schedule I —Agreement for time off instead of payment for overtime.............................. 152


Part 1—Application and Operation of this Award

1.                      Title and commencement

1.1                   This award is the Joinery and Building Trades Award 2020.

1.2                   This modern award commenced operation on 1 January 2010. The terms of the award have been varied since that date.

1.3                   A variation to this award does not affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability that a person acquired, accrued or incurred under the award as it existed prior to that variation.

2.                      Definitions

[Varied by PR733850; PR774734, PR777256]

In this award, unless the contrary intention appears:

accident pay has the meaning given in clause 22.2(a).

Act means the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

adult apprentice means an employee who is 21 years of age or over on the date they enter into an apprenticeship training agreement.

all purposes means the payment will be included in the rate of pay of an employee who is entitled to the allowance, when calculating any penalties or loadings or payment while they are on annual leave (see clause 21.2).

carver means an employee who carves any kind of stonework which does not come within the definition of a stonemason, for the decoration of buildings or other stonework, from a model or freehand design.

[Definition of casual employee inserted by PR733850 from 27Sep21; varied by PR777256 from 27Aug24]

casual employee has the meaning given by section 15A of the Act.

NOTE: Section 15A of the Act was amended with effect from 26 August 2024. Under clause 102(3) of Schedule 1 to the Act, an existing employee who was a casual employee of an employer under section 15A as it was immediately before that date is taken to be a casual employee of the employer for the purposes of section 15A after that date.

defined benefit member has the meaning given by the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).

employee means national system employee within the meaning of the Act.

[Definition of employee organisation inserted by PR774734 from 01Jul24]

employee organisation has the meaning given by section 12 of Act.

employer means national system employer within the meaning of the Act.

[Definition of enterprise inserted by PR774734 from 01Jul24]

enterprise has the meaning given by section 12 of the Act.

exempt public sector superannuation scheme has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth).

glass and glazing contracting means the business of principally providing glass and glazing work on a contract basis.

glass and glazing work means:

(a)          the designing, bevelling, cutting, embossing or glazing by hand or machine, painting, silvering, sand-blasting, bending or otherwise working of all types of glass used in the trade, as well as leadlights, spandrel panels, clear plastic, sheet acrylic or any substitute therefor, glass lenses or prisms;

(b)          the fitting and/or fixing in position of all types of glass used in the trade, as well as louvres, spandrel panels, glazing bars, clear plastic, or glass lenses or prisms in domestic on site situations;

(c)           the packing and delivery of all types of glass used in the trade, as well as louvres, spandrel panels, leadlights, glazing bars, fibreglass, clear plastic, sheet acrylic or any substitute therefor, glass lenses or prisms including any labouring work in connection with any such operations;

(d)          the toughening, heat treating or laminating of glass or safety glass;

(e)          the fabrication, assembly, glazing and installation of Insulation Glass units;

(f)            every operation, process, duty and function carried on or performed in or in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing.

injury has the meaning given in clause 22.2(b).

joinery and building trades industries and occupations has the meaning given in clause 4.2.

joinery work means work performed by the classifications contained in this award in a joinery shop, provided such establishment is not located on an ‘on-site’ construction project, and includes the preparation, decoration and assembling of joinery or building components principally in timber or similar material.

leading hand means an employee who is given by the employer, or their agent, the responsibility for directing and/or supervising the work of other persons.

letter cutter means an employee who marks out, sandblasts, cuts or finishes letters or decoration in any kind of stone.

MySuper product has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth).

NES means the National Employment Standards as contained in sections 59 to 131 of the Act.

ordinary hourly rate means the minimum hourly rate for an employee’s classification specified in clause 19.1 plus any all-purpose allowance to which an employee is entitled.

on-hire means the on-hire of an employee by their employer to a client, where such employee works under the general guidance and instruction of the client or a representative of the client.

outside work means erection or assembly work performed at the employer’s premises but outside of enclosed factory buildings on the prefabricated sections, modules or panels of any building principally made out of timber or similar material.

prefabricated building means prefabrication of the sections, modules or panels of any building principally made out of timber or similar material, including buildings or sections supplied in kit form, where the prefabrication is done at a factory or yard prior to erection or siting in a permanent or semi-permanent position, or outside work.

shopfitting means the manufacture, installation, alteration and/or repair of shopfronts, showcases, partitions involving wrap around glazing, partitions (including the insertion of glass panels where the glass is 6.35 millimetres or less in thickness, by beads or moulds or other dry glazing methods) and exhibitors’ stands, and the installation or alteration of interior fittings and fixtures in or on buildings.

signwriter means an employee who does any of the following work:

(a)          signwriting, designing and/or lettering of price tickets and showcards;

(b)          pictorial and scenic paintings, or production of signs and posters by means of stencils, screens, computers or like methods, or any other work incidental thereto; and

(c)           without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes:

(i)            lettering of every description, size or shape applied by brush on any surface or material;

(ii)          designing for windows, posters, show window and theatre displays, honour rolls, illuminated addresses, neon signs, stencils, display banners;

(iii)        gilding (i.e. the application of gold, silver, aluminium or any metal leaf to any surface);

(iv)        designing and laying out of cutout displays of all descriptions, either pictorial, scenic or lettering;

(v)          the designing, setting up and the operation for duplication of signs on any material; and

(vi)        the making of stencils and stencilling by screens or any other method and the making and/or fixing of transfers.

[Definition of small business employer inserted by PR774734 from 01Jul24]

small business employer has the meaning given by section 23 of the Act.

stonemason means an employee engaged in the dressing or setting of any kind of stonework that has to be cut to a mould or template or which has to be proven by a square or straight edge or set to a line or a level.

stonemasonry means any work performed in a stonemason’s yard or factory, and/or similar work performed in a cemetery.

standard rate means the minimum hourly rate prescribed for Level 5 in clause 19.1 of this award.

[Definition of workplace delegate inserted by PR774734 from 01Jul24]

workplace delegate has the meaning given by section 350C(1) of the Act.

3.                      The National Employment Standards and this award

3.1                   The National Employment Standards (NES) and this award contain the minimum conditions of employment for employees covered by this award.

3.2                   Where this award refers to a condition of employment provided for in the NES, the NES definition applies.

3.3                   The employer must ensure that copies of the award and the NES are available to all employees to whom they apply, either on a notice board which is conveniently located at or near the workplace or through accessible electronic means.

4.                      Coverage

4.1                   This award covers employers throughout Australia of employees in the joinery and building trades industries and occupations who are covered by the classifications in this award and those employees.

4.2                   Joinery and building trades industries and occupations means:

(a)          the following industries:

(i)            joinery work;

(ii)          shopfitting;

(iii)        prefabricated building;

(iv)        stonemasonry;

(v)          glass and glazing contracting; and

(vi)        glass and glazing work.

(b)         the following occupations:

(i)            carver;

(ii)          letter cutter;

(iii)        carpenter;

(iv)        joiner;

(v)          signwriter;

(vi)        painter;

(vii)      stonemason; and

(viii)    plasterer.

4.3                   This award does not cover:

(a)          an employer who is outside the scope of clause 4.2(a) unless such employer employs an employee covered by clause 4.2(b) and the employer is not covered by another modern award containing a classification which is more appropriate to the work performed by the employee;

(b)         employers or employees engaged in the manufacture of glass from raw materials;

(c)          employers or employees covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020; or

(d)         employers or employees covered by the Vehicle Manufacturing, Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020.

4.4                   This award covers any employer which supplies labour on an on-hire basis to the joinery and building trades industries set out in clause 4.2(a) in respect of on-hire employees in classifications covered by this award, and those on-hire employees, while engaged in the performance of work for a business in that industry (or those industries).

4.5                   This award covers any employer which supplies on-hire employees to the joinery and building trades occupations set out in clause 4.2(b) covered by classifications in this award and those on-hire employees, if the employer is not covered by another modern award containing a classification which is more appropriate to the work performed by the employee.

4.6                   Clauses 4.4 and 4.5 operate subject to the exclusions from coverage in this award.

4.7                   This award covers employers which provide group training services for apprentices and/or trainees engaged in the joinery and building trades industries and occupations, or parts of those industries and occupations and those apprentices and/or trainees engaged by a group training service hosted by a company to perform work at a location where the activities described herein are being performed. Clause 4.7 operates subject to the exclusions from coverage in this award.

4.8                   This award does not cover:

(a)          an employee excluded from award coverage by the Act;

(b)         employees who are covered by a State reference public sector modern award, or a State reference public sector transitional award (within the meaning of the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 (Cth)), or employers in relation to those employees.

(c)          employees who are covered by a modern enterprise award, or an enterprise instrument (within the meaning of the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 (Cth)), or employers in relation to those employees.

5.                      Individual flexibility arrangements

5.1                   Despite anything else in this award, an employer and an individual employee may agree to vary the application of the terms of this award relating to any of the following in order to meet the genuine needs of both the employee and the employer:

(a)          arrangements for when work is performed; or

(b)         overtime rates; or

(c)          penalty rates; or

(d)         allowances; or

(e)          annual leave loading.

5.2                   An agreement must be one that is genuinely made by the employer and the individual employee without coercion or duress.

5.3                   An agreement may only be made after the individual employee has commenced employment with the employer.

5.4                   An employer who wishes to initiate the making of an agreement must:

(a)          give the employee a written proposal; and

(b)         if the employer is aware that the employee has, or reasonably should be aware that the employee may have, limited understanding of written English, take reasonable steps (including providing a translation in an appropriate language) to ensure that the employee understands the proposal.

5.5                   An agreement must result in the employee being better off overall at the time the agreement is made than if the agreement had not been made.

5.6                   An agreement must do all of the following:

(a)          state the names of the employer and the employee; and

(b)         identify the award term, or award terms, the application of which is to be varied; and

(c)          set out how the application of the award term, or each award term, is varied; and

(d)         set out how the agreement results in the employee being better off overall at the time the agreement is made than if the agreement had not been made; and

(e)          state the date the agreement is to start.

5.7                   An agreement must be:

(a)          in writing; and

(b)         signed by the employer and the employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

5.8                   Except as provided in clause 5.7(b), an agreement must not require the approval or consent of a person other than the employer and the employee.

5.9                   The employer must keep the agreement as a time and wages record and give a copy to the employee.

5.10               The employer and the employee must genuinely agree, without duress or coercion to any variation of an award provided for by an agreement.

5.11               An agreement may be terminated:

(a)          at any time, by written agreement between the employer and the employee; or

(b)         by the employer or employee giving 13 weeks’ written notice to the other party (reduced to 4 weeks if the agreement was entered into before the first full pay period starting on or after 4 December 2013).

NOTE: If an employer and employee agree to an arrangement that purports to be an individual flexibility arrangement under this award term and the arrangement does not meet a requirement set out in section 144 then the employee or the employer may terminate the arrangement by giving written notice of not more than 28 days (see section 145 of the Act).

5.12               An agreement terminated as mentioned in clause 5.11(b) ceases to have effect at the end of the period of notice required under that clause.

5.13               The right to make an agreement under clause 5 is additional to, and does not affect, any other term of this award that provides for an agreement between an employer and an individual employee.

6.                      Requests for flexible working arrangements

[6 substituted by PR763225 ppc 01Aug23]

Requests for flexible working arrangements are provided for in the NES.

NOTE: Disputes about requests for flexible working arrangements may be dealt with under clause 35—Dispute resolution and/or under section 65B of the Act.

7.                      Facilitative provisions

[Varied by PR733850]

7.1                   A facilitative provision provides that the standard approach in an award provision may be departed from by agreement between an employer and an individual employee, or an employer and the majority of employees in the enterprise or part of the enterprise concerned.

7.2                   Facilitative provisions in this award are contained in the following clauses:

[7.2 varied by PR733850 from 27Sep21]

Clause

Provision

Agreement between an employer and:

17.1

Rostering arrangements

The majority of employees

18.1(b)

Meal breaks

An individual employee

24.9(b)

Time off instead of payment for overtime

An individual employee

26.1(b)

Alternative working arrangement

The majority of employees

27.8

Annual leave in advance

An individual employee

27.11

Cashing out of annual leave

An individual employee

32.2

Substitution of certain public holidays by agreement at the enterprise

An individual employee

Part 2—Types of Employment and Classifications

8.                      Types of employment

Employees under this award will be employed in one of the following categories:

8.1                   full-time employment;

8.2                   part-time employment; or

8.3                   casual employment.

9.                      Full-time employees

Any employee not specifically engaged as a part-time or casual employee is for all purposes of this award a full-time employee engaged to work an average of 38 hours per week.

10.                 Part-time employees

[Varied by PR747563]

10.1               An employee may be engaged to work on a part-time basis involving a regular pattern of hours which average less than 38 ordinary hours per week.

10.2               A part-time employee must be engaged for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours on any day or shift.

10.3               Before commencing part-time employment, the employee and employer must agree in writing on:

(a)          the hours to be worked by the employee;

(b)         the days on which they will be worked;

(c)          the starting and finishing times for the work; and

(d)         the classification applying to the work to be performed in accordance with Schedule A—Classification Definitions.

10.4               The terms of the agreement in clause 10.3 may be varied by consent in writing.

10.5               The agreement under clause 10.3 or any variation to it under clause 10.4 must be retained by the employer and a copy of the agreement and any variation to it must be provided to the employee by the employer.

10.6               Except as otherwise provided in this award, a part-time employee must be paid for the hours agreed on in accordance with clauses 10.3 and 10.4.

10.7               The terms of this award will apply pro rata to part-time employees on the basis that ordinary weekly hours for full-time employees are 38.

10.8               A part-time employee who is required by the employer to work in excess of the hours agreed under clauses 10.3 and 10.4 must be paid overtime in accordance with clause 24Overtime.

[10.9 varied by PR747563 ppc14Nov22]

10.9               Where the part-time employee’s normal paid hours fall on a public holiday prescribed in the NES and work is not performed by the employee, such employee must not lose pay for the day or part-day. Where the part-time employee works on the public holiday, the part-time employee must be paid in accordance with clauses 16.4, 24.4 and 25.5(b).

11.                 Casual employees

[Varied by PR733850]

[11.1 deleted by PR733850 from 27Sep21]

[11.2 renumbered as 11.1 and varied by PR733850 from 27Sep21]

11.1               An employer when engaging a person for casual employment must inform the employee in writing that the employee is to be employed as a casual, stating by whom the employee is employed, the job to be performed, the classification level and the relevant rate of pay.

[11.3 renumbered as 11.2 and varied by PR733850 from 27Sep21]

11.2               A casual employee must have a minimum daily engagement of 7.6 hours.

[11.4 renumbered as 11.3 and varied by PR733850 from 27Sep21]

11.3               A casual employee for working ordinary hours must be paid the ordinary hourly rate per hour prescribed in clause 19Minimum rates, for the employee’s classification plus a casual loading of 25%.

 

 

[11.5 renumbered as 11.4 by PR733850 from 27Sep21]

11.4               A casual employee required to work overtime or on a public holiday is entitled to the relevant penalty rates prescribed by clauses 16.3 and 16.4, clause 24Overtime and clauses 25.5(a) and 24.5(b), in addition to the 25% casual loading as follows:

Relevant penalty rate for full-time & part-time employees

Rate for casual employee (inclusive of 25% casual loading)

% of ordinary hourly rate

150

175

200

225

250

275

[11.6 renumbered as 11.5 by PR733850 from 27Sep21]

11.5               Termination of employment is by one hour’s notice or by the payment or forfeiture, as the case may be, of the remainder of the day’s wages or one hour’s pay, whichever amount is greater.

[11.7 deleted by PR733850 from 27Sep21]

12.                 Changes to casual employment status

[12—Casual conversion to full-time or part-time employment renamed and substituted by PR733850, 12—Offers and requests for casual conversion renamed and substituted by PR777256 from 27Aug24]

A pathway for employees to change from casual employment to full-time or part-time employment is provided for in the NES. See sections 66A to 66MA of the Act.

NOTE: Disputes about changes to casual employment status may be dealt with under sections 66M and 66MA of the Act and/or under clause 35—Dispute resolution.

13.                 Apprentices

13.1               The terms of this award apply to apprentices, including adult apprentices, except where otherwise stated.

13.2               In any State or Territory in which any statute or regulation relating to apprentices is in force, that statute or regulation will operate in that State or Territory provided that the provisions of the statute or regulation are not inconsistent with this award in which case the provisions of this award will apply.

13.3               An apprentice may be engaged under a training agreement approved by the State or Territory training authority with the responsibility for the apprenticeship.

13.4               The nominal period of the apprenticeship may be varied as follows:

(a)          to make up for lost time as set out in clause 13.15; and/or

(b)         with the approval of the relevant State or Territory training authority with the responsibility for the apprenticeship, to recognise prior learning including vocational education and training in school, pre-apprenticeship programs and other prior learning, the nominal period may be shortened to reflect the proportion of the competencies already acquired.

13.5               Notwithstanding the nominal period, the apprenticeship is completed in a shorter period when:

(a)          the qualification specified in the contract of training is successfully completed; and

(b)         the apprentice has the necessary practical experience to achieve competency in the skills covered by the contract of training, provided that the determination as to whether this condition has been met must be by agreement between the registered training organisation, the employer and the apprentice and where there is a disagreement concerning this matter the matter may be referred to the relevant State/Territory apprenticeship authority for determination; and

(c)          the requirements of the relevant State/Territory apprenticeship authority and any requirements of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Industry Reference Committee and/or the Australian Industry and Skills Committee with respect to demonstration of competency and any minimum necessary work experience requirements are met; and

(d)         with respect to trades where there are additional licensing or regulatory requirements under State legislation, when these requirements are met.

13.6               An apprenticeship may be cancelled or suspended only in accordance with the requirements of the training agreement and the requirements of State or Territory legislation and the State or Territory training authority with responsibility for the apprenticeship.

13.7               The probationary period of an apprentice is as set out in the training agreement or contract of apprenticeship consistent with the requirement of the apprenticeship authority and with State or Territory legislation, but must not exceed 3 months.

13.8               Apprentice conditions of employment

(a)          Except as provided in clause 13, or where otherwise stated, all conditions of employment specified in this award apply to apprentices.

(b)         Except as provided in clause 13.8(d) below redundancy provisions do not apply to apprentices.

(c)          The notice of termination provisions of the NES will apply to apprentices.

(d)         Where the employment of an apprentice by an employer is continued after the completion of the apprenticeship, the period of the apprenticeship will be counted as service for the purposes of the award and long service leave entitlements and in the event that an apprentice is terminated at the end of their apprenticeship and is re-engaged by the same employer within 6 months of such termination, the period of the apprenticeship will be counted as service in determining any future termination entitlements.

13.9               The ordinary hours of employment of apprentices in each enterprise are not to exceed those of the relevant tradesperson.

13.10           The minimum rates applying to apprenticeships are dealt with in clause 19.5Apprentice minimum rates and clause 19.6Adult apprentice minimum rates.

13.11           Apprentice training

(a)          The employer must provide training and/or access to training consistent with the training agreement without loss of pay.

(b)         Time spent by an apprentice in attending any training and assessment specified in, or associated with, the training contract is to be regarded as time worked for the employer for the purposes of calculating the apprentice’s wages and determining the apprentice’s employment conditions.

(c)          Clause 13.11(b) is subject to Schedule D—School-based Apprentices.

13.12           Training costs—fees and textbooks

(a)          All fees charged by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and the cost of all prescribed textbooks for the apprenticeship, which are paid by an apprentice, shall be reimbursed by the employer within:

(i)            6 months of commencement of the apprenticeship or a stage of the apprenticeship; or

(ii)          within 3 months of the commencement of training provided by the RTO.

whichever is the later, unless there is unsatisfactory progress.

(b)         An employer may meet its obligations under clause 13.12 by paying any fees and/or cost of textbooks directly to the RTO.

(c)          Apprentices attending technical colleges, schools, registered training organisations or TAFE institutions and presenting reports of satisfactory progress must be reimbursed all fees paid by them in respect of their apprentice training.

13.13           An apprentice under the age of 18 years is not required to work overtime or shiftwork unless an apprentice chooses to do so.

13.14           No apprentice, except in an emergency, is to work or be required to work overtime or shiftwork at times which would prevent their attendance in training consistent with their training agreement.

13.15           Apprentices are required to serve an additional day for each day of absence during each year of their apprenticeship, except in respect of absences due to annual leave or long service leave. The following year of their apprenticeship does not commence until the additional days have been worked. However, any time that has been worked by the apprentice in excess of their ordinary hours must be credited to the apprentice when calculating the amount of additional time that needs to be worked in the relevant year.

13.16           Any person engaged as an apprentice as at 1 January 2010 is deemed to be an apprentice for all purposes of this award until the completion or cancellation of their apprenticeship training agreement.

13.17           Block release training—travel costs

(a)          Where an apprentice is required to attend block release training for training identified in or associated with their training contract, and the training requires an overnight stay, the employer must pay for the excess reasonable travel costs incurred by the apprentice in the course of travelling to and from this training.

(b)         Clause 13.17(a) will not apply where the apprentice could attend an alternate Registered Training Organisation (RTO) closer to the apprentice’s usual place of work and the use of the more distant RTO is not agreed between the employer and the apprentice.

(c)          For the purposes of clause 13.17 excess reasonable travel costs include:

(i)            the total cost of reasonable transportation (including transportation of tools where required);

(ii)          accommodation costs incurred while travelling (where necessary); and

(iii)        reasonable expenses incurred while travelling, including meals, which exceed those incurred in travelling to and from work.

(d)         For the purposes of clause 13.17 excess travel costs do not include payment for travelling time or expenses incurred while not in transit.

(e)          Reduction of payment

The amount payable by an employer under clause 13.17 may be reduced by an amount the apprentice is eligible to receive for travel costs to attend block release training under a Government apprentice assistance scheme. This will only apply if an apprentice has either received such assistance or their employer has advised them in writing of the availability of such assistance.

(f)           Clause 13.17 applies instead of the provisions contained in clause 21.4(g)—Living away from home for a distant job.

13.18           Competency based progression

(a)          For the purpose of competency based wage progression in clauses 19.5 and 19.6 an apprentice will be paid at the relevant rate for the next stage of their apprenticeship if:

(i)            competency has been achieved in the relevant proportion of the total units of competency specified in clause 19.5(a) or 19.6(b) for that stage of the apprenticeship. The units of competency which are included in the relevant proportion must be consistent with any requirements in the training plan; and

(ii)          any requirements of the relevant State/Territory apprenticeship authority and any additional requirements of the relevant training package with respect to the demonstration of competency and any minimum necessary work experience requirements are met; and

(iii)        either:

(A) the Registered Training Organisation (RTO), the employer and the apprentice agree that the abovementioned requirements have been met; or

(B) the employer has been provided with written advice that the RTO has assessed that the apprentice meets the abovementioned requirements in respect to all the relevant units of competency and the employer has not advised the RTO and the apprentice of any disagreement with that assessment within 21 days of receipt of the advice.

(b)         If the employer disagrees with the assessment of the RTO referred to in clause 13.18(a)(iii)(B) above, and the dispute cannot be resolved by agreement between the RTO, the employer and the apprentice, the matter may be referred to the relevant State/Territory apprenticeship authority for determination. If the matter is not capable of being dealt with by that authority it may be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution clause in this award. For the avoidance of doubt, disputes concerning other apprenticeship progression provisions of this award may be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution clause.

(c)          For the purposes of clause 13.18, the training package containing the qualification specified in the contract of training for the apprenticeship, sets out the assessment requirements for the attainment of the units of competency that make up the qualification. The definition of “competency” utilised for the purpose of the training packages and for the purpose of clause 13.18 is the consistent application of knowledge and skill to the standard of performance required in the workplace. It embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments.

(d)         The apprentice will be paid the rate referred to in clause 13.18(a) from the first full pay period to commence on or after the date on which an agreement or determination is reached in accordance with clause 13.18(a)(iii) or on a date as determined under the dispute resolution process in clause 13.18(b).

13.19           Trainees

The terms of this award apply to a trainee covered by the provisions in Schedule E—National Training Wage except where otherwise stated in this award.

14.                 Classifications

A description of the classifications under this award is set out in Schedule A—Classification Definitions.

15.                 Employer and employee duties

15.1               An employee may be directed to carry out such duties, and use such tools as may be required, which are within the limits of the employee’s skill, competence and training including, but not limited by, duties which are incidental and peripheral to the employee’s main task or function.

15.2               An employee may be directed to transfer to another job or location, or onto or off a building site at the discretion of the employer.

15.3               An instruction issued by an employer under clauses 15.1 and 15.2 must be consistent with the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthy working environment.

Part 3—Hours of Work

16.                 Ordinary hours of work

[Varied by PR747563]

16.1                Except as provided elsewhere in this award, the ordinary hours of work for an employee are 38 or an average of 38 hours per week.

16.2               Day workers

Subject to clause 26—Alternative working arrangement, ordinary hours for a day worker must be worked as 8 hours per day, between 6.00 am and 7.00 pm Monday to Friday, over a 20 day 4 week cycle, with 0.4 of one hour of each day worked accruing as a paid rostered day off in each cycle.

16.3               An employee who works overtime must be paid overtime in accordance with clause 24Overtime.

16.4               An employee required to work on a public holiday must be paid for a minimum of 4 hours’ work at the rate of 250% of the ordinary hourly rate.

[16.5 inserted by PR747563 ppc14Nov22]

16.5               Hours of work performed immediately before or after a part-day public holiday, that form part of one continuous shift, are counted as part of the minimum payment/engagement period in clause 16.4.

16A. Employee right to disconnect

[16A inserted by PR777991 from 26Aug24]

16A.1 Clause 16A provides for the exercise of an employee’s right to disconnect under section 333M of the Act.

NOTE:

(a) Section 333M provides that, unless it is unreasonable to do so, an employee may refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact, from:

(1) their employer outside of the employee’s working hours,

(2) a third party if the contact or attempted contact relates to, their work and is outside of the employee's working hours.

(b) Section 333M(3) lists matters that must be taken into account in determining whether an employee’s refusal is unreasonable.

(c) Section 333M(5) provides that an employee’s refusal will be unreasonable if the contact or attempted contact is required under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

(d) Section 333N provides for the resolution of disputes about whether an employee’s refusal is unreasonable and about the operation of section 333M.

(e) The general protections in Part 3–1 of the Act prohibit an employer taking adverse action against an employee because of the employee’s right to disconnect under section 333M of the Act.

16A.2 Clause 16A applies from the following dates:

(a)          26 August 2024—for employers that are not small business employers on this date and their employees.

(b)         26 August 2025—for employers that are small business employers on 26 August 2024 and their employees.

16A.3 An employer must not directly or indirectly prevent an employee from exercising their right to disconnect under the Act.

16A.4 Clause 16A.3 does not prevent an employer from contacting, or attempting to contact, an employee outside of the employee’s working hours in circumstances including to notify them of a recall to work under clause 24.5.

17.                 Rostering arrangements—day workers

[Varied by PR747563]

17.1               Where it is agreed between a majority of employees and the employer that a paid rostered day off in each cycle is not practicable then agreement may be reached in writing on an alternative method of implementing ordinary hours, including:

(a)          38 hours within a work cycle not exceeding 7 consecutive days;

(b)         76 hours within a work cycle not exceeding 14 consecutive days;

(c)          114 hours within a work cycle not exceeding 21 consecutive days;

(d)         152 hours within a work cycle not exceeding 28 consecutive days; or

(e)          any other work cycle during which a weekly average of 38 ordinary hours are worked.

17.2               The paid rostered days off must be implemented:

(a)          by the employer fixing one day in a cycle on which all employees will be off;

(b)         by the employer rostering employees off on various days in a cycle so that each employee has a paid rostered day off during the cycle; or

(c)          by any other method which is agreed to by the employer and a majority of employees in the affected factory, workshop or section of the enterprise.

17.3               Where any paid rostered day off falls on a public holiday, the next working day must be taken instead of the paid rostered day off unless an alternative day is agreed in writing between the employer and an employee.

[17.4 varied by PR747563 ppc14Nov22]

17.4               Each day of paid leave (except the paid rostered day off) and any public holiday taken during a cycle of 4 weeks must be regarded as a day or part-day worked for accrual purposes.

17.5               An employee who has not worked a complete 19 day 4 week cycle must be paid accrued pro rata entitlements for each day worked on the rostered day off or, in the case of termination of employment, on termination.

17.6               An employee who works on a paid rostered day off or any substituted day must, in addition to any time credits accumulated for that day during a work cycle, be paid the penalty rates and provisions prescribed for Saturday work in clause 24.3(a), but shall not, in addition to those payments, be entitled to a day off instead of the day worked. Where an alternative day is substituted for a scheduled rostered day off, the penalty payments will only apply to the alternative day worked and not the original rostered day off.

18.                 Breaks

18.1               Meal breaks

(a)          An employee is entitled to a meal break on each day of work of at least 30 minutes to be taken no less than 4 hours and no later than 6 hours after the start of work where the employee is a day worker and no less than 5 hours after the start of work where the employee is a shiftworker.

(b)         Except where any alternative arrangement is entered into by agreement between the employer and the employee concerned, 200% of the ordinary hourly rate must be paid for all work done during a meal break and thereafter until a meal break is taken.

18.2               Rest periods—day workers

(a)          An employee is entitled to a paid rest period of 10 minutes between 9.30 am and 11.30 am on each day of work.

(b)         In addition to the rest period in clause 18.2(a), an employee engaged on glass and glazing work is entitled to a rest period of 10 minutes in the afternoon at a time to be selected by the employer, provided that when any spell of duty in ordinary hours is for 4 hours or more, the rest period must be allowed in the third hour of duty.

18.3               Paid crib time

Where shiftwork comprises 3 continuous and consecutive shifts of 8 hours each per day, an employee is entitled to a paid 20 minute crib time instead of any other rest period or cessation of work prescribed elsewhere in this award.

18.4               Washing time

An employee engaged in glass and glazing work as a spray painter operator or stripper of mirrors or using rouge, glacite or substitute material is entitled to 5 minutes before the meal or crib break and 5 minutes before the conclusion of work for the day or shift for washing purposes.

Part 4—Wages and Allowances

19.                 Minimum rates

[Varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914]

[19.1 varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

19.1               An employer must pay employees the following minimum rates for ordinary hours worked by the employee:

Employee classification

Minimum weekly rate

 

Minimum hourly rate

 

$

$

Level 1

891.50

23.46

Level 2

915.90

24.10

Level 3

949.20

24.98

Level 4

980.40

25.80

Level 5

1032.30

27.17

Level 6

1064.70

28.02

Level 7

1097.10

28.87

NOTE: See Schedule B—Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay for a summary of hourly rates of pay, including overtime and penalty rates.

19.2               For the purposes of clause 19.1, any entitlement to a minimum rate expressed to be by the week means any entitlement which an employee would receive for performing 38 hours of work.

19.3               The classification definitions are set out in Schedule A—Classification Definitions.

19.4               The following employees are not entitled to the minimum rates set out in the table in clause 19.1:

(a)          an apprentice (see clause 19.5—Apprentice minimum rates and clause 19.6—Adult apprentice minimum rates);

(b)         a trainee (see clause Schedule E—National Training Wage); and

(c)          an employee receiving a supported wage (see clause Schedule F—Supported Wage System).

19.5               Apprentice minimum rates

(a)          Minimum rates—apprentices who commence a contract of training on or after 1 January 2014

An apprentice will be paid a minimum rate of pay calculated on the total of the percentage of the level 5 classification minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1 determined in accordance with the following tables (calculated to the nearest $0.10, less than $0.05 to be disregarded), and the allowances prescribed in clause 21.2 (where applicable):

(i)            Four year apprenticeship (nominal term)

Stage of apprenticeship

Minimum training requirements on entry

Has not completed year 12

Has completed year 12

 

 

% of the level 5 minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1

Stage 1

On commencement and prior to the attainment of the minimum training requirements specified for Stage 2

50

55

Stage 2

·         On attainment of 25% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·         12 months after commencing the apprenticeship

whichever is the earlier.

60

65

Stage 3

·         On attainment of 50% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·         12 months after commencing Stage 2

whichever is the earlier.

75

75

Stage 4

·         On attainment of 75% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·         12 months after commencing Stage 3

whichever is the earlier.

90

90

(ii)          Three year apprenticeship (nominal term)

Stage of apprenticeship

Minimum training requirements on entry

% of level 5 minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1

Stage 1

On commencement and prior to the attainment of the minimum training requirements specified for Stage 2

55

Stage 2

·         On attainment of 50% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

12 months after commencing the apprenticeship

whichever is the earlier.

75

Stage 3

·         On attainment of 75% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·         12 months after commencing Stage 2

whichever is the earlier.

90

(b)         Apprentices who commenced a contract of training before 1 January 2014

An apprentice will be paid a minimum rate of pay calculated on the total of the percentage of the level 5 classification minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1 determined in accordance with the following table (calculated to the nearest $0.10, less than $0.05 to be disregarded), and the allowances prescribed in clause 21.2 (where applicable):

4 year apprenticeship

% of level 5 minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1

1st year

45

2nd year

55

3rd year

75

4th year

90

3 year apprenticeship

% of level 5 minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1

1st year

50

2nd year

75

3rd year

90

(c)          Where an apprenticeship is shortened in accordance with clause 13.4, the apprentice is to be paid the minimum rate corresponding to the stage of the apprenticeship being undertaken.

(d)         An employee who is under 21 years of age on the expiration of their apprenticeship and then works as a junior in the occupation to which the employee was apprenticed must be paid at not less than the minimum rate prescribed for the classification.

19.6               Adult apprentice minimum rates

(a)          A person employed by an employer under this award immediately prior to entering into a training agreement as an adult apprentice with that employer must not suffer a reduction in their minimum rate by virtue of entering into the training agreement. For the purpose only of fixing a minimum rate, the adult apprentice must continue to receive the minimum rate that applies to the classification specified in clause 19.1 in which the adult apprentice was engaged immediately prior to entering into the training agreement.

(b)         Subject to clause 19.6(a), the minimum rates for an adult apprentice are to be calculated in accordance with the percentages set out below (calculated to the nearest $0.10, less than $0.05 to be disregarded) applied to the Level 5 classification minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1:

(i)            Four year apprenticeship (nominal term)

Stage of apprenticeship

Minimum training requirements on entry

% of level 5 minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1

Stage 1

On commencement and prior to the attainment of the minimum training requirements specified for Stage 2

81

Stage 2

·           On attainment of 25% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·           12 months after commencing the apprenticeship

whichever is the earlier.

85

Stage 3

·         On attainment of 50% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·         12 months after commencing Stage 2

whichever is the earlier.

88

Stage 4

·         On attainment of 75% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·         12 months after commencing Stage 3

whichever is the earlier.

94

(ii)          Three year apprenticeship (nominal term)

Stage of apprenticeship

Minimum training requirements on entry

% of level 5 minimum weekly rate in clause 19.1

Stage 1

On commencement and prior to the attainment of the minimum training requirements specified for Stage 2

83

Stage 2

·         On attainment of 50% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·         12 months after commencing the apprenticeship

whichever is the earlier.

88

Stage 3

·         On attainment of 75% of the total competencies specified in the training plan for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualifications; or

·         12 months after commencing Stage 2

whichever is the earlier.

94

(c)          Subject to clause 19.6(a), where an adult apprenticeship is shortened in accordance with clause 13.4, the adult apprentice is to be paid the minimum rate corresponding to the stage of the apprenticeship being undertaken.

19.7               Higher duties

(a)          An employee engaged for more than 2 hours during one day on duties carrying a higher minimum rate than the employee’s ordinary classification must be paid the higher minimum rate for such day.

(b)         If engaged on higher duties for 2 hours or less during one day, the employee must be paid the higher minimum rate for the time worked at the higher level.

19.8               School-based apprentices

For school-based apprentices, see Schedule D—School-based Apprentices.

19.9               National training wage

For employees undertaking a traineeship, see Schedule E—National Training Wage.

19.10           Supported wage system

For employees who because of the effects of a disability are eligible for a supported wage, see Schedule F—Supported Wage System.

20.                 Payment of wages

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

20.1               Subject to clause 20.2, all monies due to an employee by the employer in relation to the performance of work must be paid and be available by no later than the end of ordinary hours of work on Thursday of each working week.

20.2               Mutually acceptable alternative arrangements must be made in any week in which a public holiday falls on a Thursday or a Friday.

20.3               All monies must be paid by cash, cheque or direct credit to the account at an approved financial institution nominated by the employee, provided that payment other than by cash creates no undue financial burden to the employee.

20.4               Subject to clause 20.1, an employee who due to circumstances within the control of the employer does not receive such monies by the end of ordinary hours of work on the Thursday of each week must be paid waiting time at overtime rates, with a minimum of 15 minutes payment until the monies due are paid.

20.5               Payment on termination of employment

(a)          The employer must pay an employee no later than 7 days after the day on which the employee’s employment terminates:

(i)            the employee’s wages under this award for any complete or incomplete pay period up to the end of the day of termination; and

(ii)          all other amounts that are due to the employee under this award and the NES.

(b)         The requirement to pay wages and other amounts under clause 20.5(a) is subject to further order of the Commission and the employer making deductions authorised by this award or the Act.

NOTE 1: Section 117(2) of the Act provides that an employer must not terminate an employee’s employment unless the employer has given the employee the required minimum period of notice or “has paid” to the employee payment instead of giving notice.

NOTE 2: Clause 20.5(b) allows the Commission to make an order delaying the requirement to make a payment under clause 20.5. For example, the Commission could make an order delaying the requirement to pay redundancy pay if an employer makes an application under section 120 of the Act for the Commission to reduce the amount of redundancy pay an employee is entitled to under the NES.

NOTE 3: State and Territory long service leave laws or long service leave entitlements under section 113 of the Act, may require an employer to pay an employee for accrued long service leave on the day on which the employee’s employment terminates or shortly after.

21.                 Allowances

[Varied by PR729284, PR729473, PR740878, PR740709, PR762138, PR762302, PR773914, PR774082]

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

21.1               Employers must pay to an employee the allowances the employee is entitled to under clause 21.

NOTE: See Schedule C—Summary of Monetary Allowances for a summary of monetary allowances and method of adjustment.

21.2               All-purpose allowances

Allowances paid for all purposes are included in the rate of pay of an employee who is entitled to the allowance, when calculating any penalties or loadings or payment while they are on annual leave. The following allowances are paid for all purposes under this award:

(a)          Leading hands (clause 21.3(a));

(b)         Industry allowance (clause 21.3(b));

(c)          Tool allowance (21.4(a)); and

(d)         Stonemasonry tools and equipment allowance (21.4(b)(i)).

21.3               Wage-related allowances

(a)          Leading hands

[21.3(a) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

A leading hand in charge of one or more people must be paid the following, in addition to the minimum rate for the highest classification supervised or their own minimum rate, whichever is higher:

In charge of

$ per week

1 employee

24.78

2–5 employees

54.39

6–10 employees

69.64

11 or more employees

92.62

(b)         Industry allowance

[21.3(b)(i) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            An employee engaged on joinery work, shopfitting, stonemasonry or outside work must be paid $38.69 per week extra to compensate for the disabilities associated with the industry.

[21.3(b)(ii) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          A glazier or an apprentice glazier, engaged other than on factory glazing, must be paid $1.03 per hour extra while engaged other than on factory glazing to compensate for the disabilities associated with the industry, provided that:

·   in respect of public holidays not worked (where payment is otherwise due), paid leave and attendance by apprentices at prescribed technical training, the disability allowance must also be paid for each hour the employee would have been engaged other than on factory glazing during such period; and

·   in the case of an employee proceeding on paid leave or receiving payment instead of leave on termination where it cannot be established to what extent they would have been engaged on other than factory glazing during the period, the disability allowance paid is to be pro rata of the disability allowance they were paid in the preceding 12 weeks.

(c)          First aid allowance

[21.3(c) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee who has been trained to perform first aid and who is the current holder of appropriate first aid qualifications such as a certificate from St John Ambulance or a similar body must be paid $20.54 per week extra if appointed by the employer to perform first aid duty.

(d)         Special rates

For special rates calculated as wage-related allowances, see clause 21.5.

21.4               Expense-related allowances

(a)        Tool allowance

[21.4(a)(i) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302, PR774082 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            An employee must be paid the following allowance per week extra for supplying and maintaining tools:

Employee classification

$ per week

Carpenter and/or joiner

38.67

Carver

38.67

Joiner special class

38.67

Joiner-setter out

38.67

Letter cutter

38.67

Prefab setter

38.67

Prefab tradesperson

38.67

Shopfitter

38.67

Stonemason

38.67

Plasterer

31.99

Glazier

13.58

Assembler A

11.55

Glass worker

9.38

Painter

9.28

(ii)          Where an employer provides an employee with all the tools reasonably required to perform all the functions of the employee’s employment then no tool allowance is payable. In these cases:

·   the employer must notify the employee in writing;

·   an employee provided with tools of trade by the employer is not responsible for the loss of these tools where the loss is outside the control of the employee; and

·   an employee provided with tools of trade by the employer must replace all or any tools of trade lost due to the negligence of the employee, provided that where the tools of trade are locked in a secure location provided by the employer, or at the employer’s premises, the employee must not be held responsible for the loss.

(iii)        Clause 21.4(a)(ii) does not apply to an employee employed as at 14 January 1993 or an apprentice unless otherwise agreed between the parties.

(b)         Stonemasonry tools and equipment

[21.4(b)(i) varied by PR740878, PR762302 ppc 01Jul23]

(i)            The tool allowance prescribed in clause 21.4(a)(i) does not include the provision of stonemasonry cutting tools, except mash hammers, squares, pitching tools and straight-edges up to one metre in length. The employer may elect to provide such tools. Where the tools are provided by an employee, the employer must reimburse the employee for the cost of the tools and must pay the employee $0.09 per hour extra.

(ii)          The employer must reimburse an employee for the cost of sharpening all necessary stonemasonry cutting tools. On completion of engagements, all stonemasonry cutting tools provided by the employee must be sharpened by the employer or the employer must pay the employee an allowance equal to the cost of sharpening.

(iii)        The employer must reimburse an employee for the cost of fitting all pneumatic surfacing machines and lathes with jet sprays or other suitable device for keeping the stone wet or provide such device.

(c)          Meal allowance

[21.4(c) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302, PR774082 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee required to work overtime for at least one and a half hours after working ordinary hours must be paid by the employer an amount of $18.51 extra to meet the cost of a meal, except as provided for in clause 21.4(g).

(d)         Employee protection allowance

(i)            An employer must reimburse an employee for the cost of purchasing the following protective equipment or provide the protective equipment:

·   one apron per year for an employee operating flexible drive polishing machines;

·   suitable protective clothing or footwear for an employee engaged on stonemasonry work; and

·   suitable protective clothing and footwear for an employee engaged on glass and glazing work.

(ii)          An employer must reimburse an employee engaged on stonemasonry work for the cost of an x-ray for silicosis once in each period of 6 months, if the employee so requires. An x-ray may be taken during working hours and count as time worked.

(iii)        When an employer requires an employee to wear spectacles with toughened glass lenses, the employer must pay for the cost of the toughening process.

(e)          Compensation for clothing and tools

(i)            An employee whose clothes, spectacles, hearing aids or tools have been accidentally spoilt by acid, sulphur or other deleterious substances must be paid compensation by the employer to the extent necessary to cover the loss.

[21.4(e)(ii) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302, PR774082 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          An employee must be reimbursed by the employer to a maximum of $2242 for the loss of tools or clothes, by fire or breaking and entering, which were securely stored at the employer’s direction in a room or building on the employer’s premises, job or workshop or in a lock-up or if the tools are accidentally lost over water or if the tools are lost or stolen during an employee’s absence after leaving the job because of injury or illness. Reimbursement is subject to the following:

·   an employee transporting their own tools must take all reasonable care to protect those tools and prevent loss or theft;

·   only tools used by the employee in the course of employment are covered;

·   the employee must, if requested to do so, furnish the employer with a list of the tools so used;

·   reimbursement is at the current replacement value of new tools of the same or comparable quality; and

·   the employee must report any theft to the police prior to making a claim on the employer for the replacement of stolen tools.

(f)           Motor vehicle allowance

[21.4(f) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302, PR774082 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee engaged on glass and glazing work who reaches agreement with their employer to use their own motor vehicle on the employer’s business must be paid an allowance of $0.98 per kilometre travelled.

(g)          Living away from home for a distant job

(i)            For the purposes of clause 21.4(g), a distant job is one where either the distance from the employee’s usual place of residence or the travelling facilities available make it reasonably necessary for the employee to live and sleep away from their usual residence.

(ii)          Where an employee is directed by their employer to proceed to a distant job and the employee complies with such direction, the employer will:

[21.4(g)(ii)(A) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302 ppc 01Jul23]

(A) pay the employee the greater of $100.22 per day or an amount which fully reimburses the employee for all reasonable accommodation and meal expenses incurred; or

(B) provide the worker with accommodation and 3 adequate meals each day; or

(C) provide the worker with accommodation and reimburse the employee for all reasonable meal expenses; or

(D) where employees are required to live in camp, provide all board and accommodation free of charge.

(iii)        Any accommodation provided under clause 21.4(g)(ii) must be in accordance with contemporary living standards taking into account the particular circumstances of the location in which the work is performed and must include reasonable washing, laundry, recreational, kitchen, external lighting, communications and fire protection facilities.

[21.4(g)(iv) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302, PR774082 ppc 01Jul24]

(iv)        Subject to clause 21.4(g), an employee who complies with their employer’s direction to proceed to a distant job is not required to travel outside their ordinary hours of work each day and is entitled:

·   to travelling time at their ordinary rate of pay for the period incurred in travelling between their usual residence and the distant job on the forward journey, on the return journey and at the completion of the job on the return journey;

·   to be paid an amount of $26.21 to cover the expenses of reaching their residence from the main public transport terminal on the return journey; and

·   to be paid $18.51 per meal for any meals incurred while travelling on either the forward or return journey.

(v)          Subject to clause 21.4(g), an employee who complies with their employer’s direction to proceed to a distant job must be paid the amount of an economy return fare and any excess payment incurred in transporting their tools.

(vi)        An employee dismissed for misconduct or incompetency within one week of commencing work on a distant job, or an employee who terminates or discontinues their work within one month of commencing the distant job, is not entitled to the amount of the return fare prescribed in clause 21.4(g)(v) and the payments prescribed by clause 21.4(g)(iv).

(vii)      Subject to clause 21.4(g)(viii), after 3 months’ continuous service on a distant job to which an employee has been directed to attend, and thereafter at 4 monthly periods of continuous service thereon, an employee may return to their usual residence at a weekend.

(viii)    Where the location of a distant job is in an area to which air transport is the only practical means of travel, an employee may return to their usual residence after 5 months’ continuous service and if the employee does so the employee is entitled to 2 days’ leave with pay in addition to the weekend. An employee may also return to their usual residence after each further period of 5 months’ continuous service and in each case if the employee does so the employee is entitled to 2 days’ leave, of which one day must be paid.

(ix)        An employee who returns to their usual residence in accordance with clauses 21.4(g)(vii) and (viii) must be paid the amount of the economy return fare and the paid leave on the pay day which immediately follows the date on which they return to the job, provided no delay not agreed to by the employer takes place in connection with the employee’s commencement of work on the morning of the working day following the weekend.

(x)          The entitlement in clauses 21.4(g)(vii) and (viii) must be taken as soon as reasonably practicable after it becomes due and lapses after a further period of 2 months if the employee has been notified in writing by the employer of their entitlement and its expiry date in the week prior to the entitlement becoming due.

(xi)        In special circumstances, and by agreement with the employer, the entitlement in clauses 21.4(g)(vii) and (viii) may be granted earlier or taken later without altering the accrual of the entitlements.

(xii)      The leave entitlements prescribed in clauses 21.4(g)(vii) and (viii) count as periods of service for all purposes of this award.

[21.4(g)(xiii) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302 ppc 01Jul23]

(xiii)    An employee who is provided with full board and lodging in accordance with clause 21.4(g)(ii), who works ordinary hours as required on the day before and the day after a weekend, who notifies the employer or employer’s representative no later than Tuesday of each week of their intention to return to their usual residence at the weekend and who actually returns to their usual residence on the weekend must be paid an allowance of $58.73 for each occasion.

(xiv)    If an employer and an employee agree in writing, the paid rostered day or shift off as prescribed in clauses 16.2 and 25 may be taken, and paid for, in conjunction with and additional to the return to usual residence leave as prescribed in clauses 21.4(g)(vii) and (viii), or at the end of the work on the distant job, or on termination, whichever comes first.

(xv)      For the purposes of clause 21.4(g) economy return fare means the total cost of the most common method of public transport between the employee’s usual residence and the distant job and return.

(h)         Stonemasonry work at a cemetery

An employee engaged on stonemasonry work when directed to work on fixing work in a cemetery away from the employer’s usual place of business is entitled to payment at ordinary time rates for any excess travelling time involved and must be:

(i)            reimbursed for any fares incurred in excess of those normally expended in travelling to and from their usual residence to the employer’s premises; or

[21.4(h)(ii) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302, PR774082 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          paid an amount of $0.98 per kilometre travelled in excess of those normally expended in travelling to and from their usual residence to their employer’s premises, where an employer requests an employee to use their own car and the employee agrees to do so.

(i)            Performing glass and glazing work away from the usual place of business

An employee engaged on glass and glazing work who is directed to commence work at the usual starting time at a location other than the employer’s usual place of business must be paid at ordinary time rates for the first hour each way and thereafter at overtime rates for any excess travelling time involved and must be:

(i)            reimbursed for any fares incurred in excess of those normally expended in travelling to and from their usual residence to the employer’s usual place of business; or

[21.4(i)(ii) varied by PR729473, PR740878, PR762302, PR774082 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          paid an amount of $0.98 per kilometre travelled in excess of those normally expended in travelling to and from their usual residence to their employer’s usual place of business, where an employer requests an employee to use their own motor vehicle and the employee agrees to do so.

21.5               Special rates—wage-related allowances

Subject to clause 21.7, the following extra rates must be paid to an employee:

(a)          Asbestos allowance

[21.5(a) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee required to wear protective equipment (i.e. combination overalls and breathing equipment or similar apparatus) required by the appropriate occupational health authority when using materials containing asbestos or working in close proximity to an employee using such materials must be paid $1.09 per hour extra while wearing this equipment.

(b)         Bagging allowance

[21.5(b) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee engaged in bagging brick or concrete structures must be paid $0.79 per hour extra.

(c)          Cold work allowance

[21.5(c)(i) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            An employee working for more than one hour in a place where the temperature is reduced by artificial means below 0 C must be paid $0.87 per hour or part thereof extra.

(ii)          Where work continues for more than 2 hours, the employee is entitled to 20 minutes rest after every 2 hours’ work without loss of pay, not including the special rate provided by clause 21.5(c)(i).

(d)         Computing quantities allowance

[21.5(d)(i) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            An employee who is regularly required to compute or estimate quantities of materials in respect to the work performed by other employees must be paid $6.33 per day or part thereof extra.

(ii)          This allowance does not apply to an employee classified and paid as a leading hand or setter-out.

(e)          Confined space allowance

[21.5(e) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee required to work in a confined space must be paid $1.09 per hour or part thereof extra.

(f)           Dirty work allowance

[21.5(f) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee engaged in unusually dirty work must be paid $0.87 per hour extra.

(g)          Explosive powered tools allowance

[21.5(g) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An operator of explosive powered tools who is required to use an explosive powered tool must be paid $2.06 per day extra for each day on which such a tool is used.

(h)         Grindstone allowance

[21.5(h) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

A carpenter and/or joiner must be paid $9.32 per week extra where a grindstone or wheel is not made available by the employer.

(i)            Heavy blocks allowance

[21.5(i) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee handling, lifting and placing heavy blocks must be paid:

Weight

$ per hour

Where the blocks weigh over 5.5kg and under 9kg

0.87

Where the blocks weigh 9kg or over and up to 18kg

1.58

Where the blocks weigh over 18kg

2.23

(j)           Hot bitumen allowance

[21.5(j) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee handling hot bitumen or asphalt or dipping materials in creosote must be paid $1.09 per hour extra.

(k)         Hot places allowance

[21.5(k)(i) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            An employee who works for more than one hour in the shade in places where the temperature is raised by artificial means must be paid:

Temperature

$ per hour or part thereof extra

Between 46°C and 54°C

0.87

In excess of 54°C

1.09

(ii)          In addition, where work continues for more than 2 hours in temperatures exceeding 54 C, the employee is entitled to 20 minutes rest after every 2 hours’ work without loss of pay, not including the special rate in clause 21.5(k)(i).

(iii)        The temperature is to be determined by the employer after consultation with the employee who claims the special rate.

(l)            Insulation allowance

[21.5(l) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee handling charcoal, pumice, granulated cork, silicate of cotton, insulwool, slag wool or other recognised insulating material of a like nature or working in the immediate vicinity so as to be affected by the use of such substance must be paid $1.09 per hour or part thereof extra.

(m)       Wet work allowance

[21.5(m)(i) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            An employee who is working in any place where water is continually dripping on the employee so that clothing and boots become wet, or where there is water underfoot, must be paid $0.87 per hour extra while so engaged.

[21.5(m)(ii) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          An employee engaged on stonemasonry work in a cemetery who is required to work under unusually muddy or sloppy conditions must be paid $1.03 per hour extra instead of the allowance in clause 21.5(m)(i).

(iii)        Where an employer and an employee engaged on fixing work in a cemetery agree that such work cannot be carried out owing to wet weather, the employer must provide the employee with other work or pay the employee for the time lost.

(n)         Tower allowance

An employee who is working on a chimney stack, spire tower, radio or television mast or tower, air shaft (other than above ground in a multistorey building), cooling tower, water tower or silo where the construction exceeds 15 metres in height must be paid:

[21.5(n)(i) varied by PR729284 , PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            $0.87 per hour extra for all work above 15 metres; and

[21.5(n)(ii) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          a further $0.87 per hour extra for work above each additional 15 metres.

(o)          Roof repairs allowance

[21.5(o) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee engaged on repairs to roofs must be paid $1.09 per hour extra.

(p)         Second hand timber allowance

[21.5(p) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee whose tools are damaged by nails, dumps or other foreign matter on second hand timber the employee is working on must be paid $3.42 per day extra on each day on which the employee’s tools are damaged, provided that the damage is reported immediately to the employer’s representative on the job in order that the employee may prove the claim.

(q)         Spray application allowance

[21.5(q) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee engaged on all spray applications carried out in other than a properly constructed booth approved by the relevant State authority must be paid $0.87 per hour extra.

(r)          Swing scaffold allowance

[21.5(r)(i) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            Subject to clause 21.5(r)(ii), an employee must be paid $6.30 for the first 4 hours or any part thereof extra, and $1.30 for each hour thereafter extra, on any day the employee is employed:

·   on any type of swing scaffold or any scaffold suspended by rope or cable, bosun’s chair, etc; or

·   on a suspended scaffold requiring the use of steel or iron hooks or angle irons at a height of 6 metres or more above the nearest horizontal plane.

(ii)          An apprentice with less than 2 years’ experience must not use a swing scaffold or bosun’s chair.

(s)           Toxic substances allowance

[21.5(s)(i) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            An employee using toxic substances or materials of a like nature must be paid $1.09 per hour extra. An employee working in close proximity to an employee so engaged must be paid $0.87 per hour extra.

(ii)          For the purpose of clause 21.5(s)(i), toxic substances include epoxy based materials and all materials which include or require the addition of a catalyst hardener and reactive additives or 2-pack catalyst systems are deemed to be materials of a like nature.

(t)           Collection of monies allowance

[21.5(t) varied by PR729284, PR740709, PR762138, PR773914 ppc 01Jul24]

An employee engaged on glass and glazing work who in the course of their duties is authorised to collect, and does collect, monies on behalf of the employer must be paid $7.96 per week extra.

21.6               Special rates—other allowances

(a)          Scaffolding allowance

A tradesperson who is the holder of a scaffolding certificate or rigging certificate issued by the relevant State or Territory authority and who is required to act on that certificate while engaged on work requiring a certificated person must be paid 3.2% per hour extra.

21.7               Special rates are not cumulative or subject to addition of penalties

(a)          The special rates in clause 21.5 and 21.6 must be paid when incurred and irrespective of the times at which the work is performed and are not subject to any premium or penalty additions.

(b)         Where the special rates in clause 21.5 and 21.6 provide payments for disabilities of substantially the same nature then only the highest of such rates is payable.

22.                 Accident pay

22.1               The employer must pay an employee accident pay.

22.2               Definitions

(a)          Accident pay means a weekly payment made to an employee by the employer that is the difference between the amount of workers’ compensation received by the employee and the employee’s appropriate 38 hour award rate. Where the incapacity caused by the injury which leads to workers’ compensation becoming payable is for a period less than one week, the payment is the difference between the amount of compensation and the award rate for that period. The award rate does not include over award payments, shift loadings or overtime.

(b)         Injury, for the purposes of clause 22, has the same meaning as that contained in the applicable workers’ compensation legislation covering the employer in respect of a claim made by the employee.

22.3               Subject to the relevant workers’ compensation claim being accepted, accident pay is payable from the time of the injury for which workers’ compensation is paid for a total of 26 weeks in respect to the employee’s incapacity from that injury, regardless of whether the incapacity is in one continuous period or not.

22.4               The termination of the employee’s employment for any reason whilst the employee is receiving accident pay will not affect the liability of the employer to pay accident pay in accordance with clause 22.3.

22.5               Where an employee receives a lump sum payment in lieu of weekly payments under the applicable workers’ compensation legislation, the liability of the employer to pay accident pay will cease from the date of receipt of the lump sum by the employee.

22.6               If an employer has a scheme for the payment of accident pay that contains provisions generally not less favourable to employees than the provisions of clause 22, the employer may apply to the Fair Work Commission for that scheme to apply instead of clause 22.

22.7               For a casual employee the weekly payment as defined in clause 22.2(a) will be calculated using the employee’s average weekly ordinary hours with the employer over the previous 12 months or, if the employee has been employed for less than 12 months by the employer, the employee’s average weekly ordinary hours over the period of employment with the employer. The weekly payment will include casual loading but will not include over award payments, shift loadings and overtime.

22.8               If an employee entitled to accident pay under clause 22 returns to work on reduced hours or modified duties, the amount of accident pay due will be reduced by any amounts paid for the performance of such work.

22.9               For the avoidance of doubt, an employee will not be entitled to any payment under clause 22 in respect of any period of workers’ compensation where the statutory payment for the period exceeds the amount the employee would have received for working ordinary time hours for the same period.

23.                 Superannuation

[Varied by PR771297]

23.1               Superannuation legislation

[23.1 substituted by PR771297 ppc 09Apr24]

(a)          The NES and Superannuation legislation, including the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth), the Superannuation Guarantee Charge Act 1992 (Cth), the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) and the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 (Cth), deal with the superannuation rights and obligations of employers and employees.

(b)         The rights and obligations in clause 23 supplement those in superannuation legislation and the NES.

NOTE: Under superannuation legislation:

(a) Individual employees generally have the opportunity to choose their own superannuation fund.

(b) If a new employee does not choose a superannuation fund, the employer must ask the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) whether the employee is an existing member of a stapled superannuation fund and, if stapled fund details are provided by the ATO, make contributions to the stapled fund.

(c) If an employee does not choose a superannuation fund and does not have a stapled fund, the choice of superannuation fund requirements will be satisfied by contributions made to a superannuation fund nominated in the award covering the employee, provided the fund is able to accept contributions for the benefit of the employee.

(d) A fund may not be able to accept contributions for the benefit of an employee if the employee would be a new member of the fund’s MySuper product and the MySuper product is closed to new members because it has failed the performance tests of Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) for 2 consecutive years.

23.2               Employer contributions

An employer must make such superannuation contributions to a superannuation fund for the benefit of an employee as will avoid the employer being required to pay the superannuation guarantee charge under superannuation legislation with respect to that employee.

23.3               Voluntary employee contributions

(a)          Subject to the governing rules of the relevant superannuation fund, an employee may, in writing, authorise their employer to pay on behalf of the employee a specified amount from the post-taxation wages of the employee into the same superannuation fund as the employer makes the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 23.2.

(b)         An employee may adjust the amount the employee has authorised their employer to pay from the wages of the employee from the first of the month following the giving of three months’ written notice to their employer.

(c)          The employer must pay the amount authorised under clauses 23.3(a) or (b) no later than 28 days after the end of the month in which the deduction authorised under clauses 23.3(a) or (b) was made.

23.4               Superannuation fund

[23.4 varied by PR771297 ppc 09Apr24]

Unless, to comply with superannuation legislation, the employer is required to make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 23.2 to another superannuation fund, the employer must make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 23.2 and pay any amount authorised under clauses 23.3(a) or 23.3(b) to one of the following superannuation funds or its successor, provided that, in respect of new employees, the fund is able to accept new beneficiaries:

(a)          Cbus;

(b)         CareSuper;

(c)          FIRSTSUPER;

(d)         AustralianSuper;

(e)          Allied Union Superannuation Trust of Queensland (Aust(Q));

(f)           BUSS(Q);

(g)          any superannuation fund to which the employer was making superannuation contributions for the benefit of its employees before 12 September 2008, provided the superannuation fund is an eligible choice fund and is a fund that offers a MySuper product or is an exempt public sector superannuation scheme; or

(h)         a superannuation fund or scheme which the employee is a defined benefit member of.

23.5               Absence from work

Subject to the governing rules of the relevant superannuation fund, the employer must also make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 23.2 and pay the amount authorised under clauses 23.3(a) or (b):

(a)          Paid leave

While the employee is on any paid leave.

(b)         Work related injury or illness

For the period of absence from work (subject to a maximum of 52 weeks in total) of the employee due to work related injury or work-related illness provided that:

(i)            the employee is receiving workers compensation payments or is receiving regular payments directly from the employer in accordance with statutory requirements; and

(ii)          the employee remains employed by the employer.

Part 5—Overtime and Penalty Rates

24.                 Overtime

[Varied by PR747563, PR763225]

24.1               Reasonable overtime

(a)          Subject to section 62 of the Act and clause 24.1, an employer may require an employee to work reasonable overtime hours at overtime rates.

(b)         An employee may refuse to work overtime hours if they are unreasonable.

(c)          In determining whether overtime hours are reasonable or unreasonable for the purpose of clause 24.1 the following must be taken into account:

(i)            any risk to employee health and safety from working the additional hours;

(ii)          the employee’s personal circumstances, including family responsibilities;

(iii)        the needs of the workplace or enterprise in which the employee is employed;

(iv)        whether the employee is entitled to receive overtime payments, penalty rates or other compensation for, or a level of remuneration that reflects an expectation of, working additional hours;

(v)          any notice given by the employer of any request or requirement to work the additional hours;

(vi)        any notice given by the employee of his or her intention to refuse to work the additional hours;

(vii)      the usual patterns of work in the industry, or the part of an industry, in which the employee works;

(viii)    the nature of the employee’s role, and the employee’s level of responsibility;

(ix)        whether the additional hours are in accordance with averaging terms of clauses 16—Ordinary hours of work, 17—Rostering arrangements—day workers and 25—Shiftworkers inserted pursuant to section 63 of the Act, that applies to the employee; and

(x)          any other relevant matter.

24.2               Payment for working overtime

(a)          Except as provided for in clauses 24.3 and 24.4, for all work done outside of ordinary hours by a day worker the overtime rate is:

(i)            150% of the ordinary hourly rate for the first 2 hours and 200% thereafter; and

(ii)          for all work done outside of ordinary hours by a shiftworker the overtime rate is 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

(b)         Overtime work performed by a shiftworker employed on the second or third shifts of a day when 2 or 3 shifts are worked must be paid 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

(c)          A casual employee must be paid the overtime rates prescribed by clause 24.2 in accordance with clause 11.4.

24.3               Weekend work

(a)          Saturday

(i)            Overtime worked by an employee on a Saturday must be paid for at 150% of the ordinary hourly rate for the first 2 hours and 200% after that.

(ii)          All overtime worked by an employee after 12 noon on a Saturday must be paid for at 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

(b)         Sunday

Overtime worked by an employee on a Sunday must be paid 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

(c)          An employee required to work overtime on a Saturday or a Sunday must be given and paid for at least 3 hours’ work on a Saturday or 4 hours’ work on a Sunday at the appropriate rate.

(d)         An employee working overtime on a Saturday or a Sunday must be allowed a paid 10 minute rest period.

(e)          An employee working overtime on a Saturday or a Sunday must be allowed a paid 20 minute crib break after 4 hours’ work and a paid 30 minute crib break after a further 4 hours’ work, paid at the ordinary hourly rate.

(f)           A casual employee must be paid the overtime rates prescribed by clause 24.3 in accordance with clause 11.4.

24.4               Public holiday work

(a)          An employee required to work overtime on a public holiday must be paid for a minimum of 4 hours’ work at 250% of the ordinary hourly rate.

[New 24.4(b) inserted by PR747563 ppc14Nov22]

(b)         Hours of work performed immediately before or after a part-day public holiday, that form part of one continuous shift, are counted as part of the minimum payment/engagement period in clause 24.4(a).

[24.4(b) renumbered as 24.4(c) by PR747563 ppc 14Nov22]

(c)          A casual employee must be paid the overtime rate prescribed by clause 24.4(a) in accordance with clause 11.4.

24.5               Call back

(a)          An employee recalled to work overtime after leaving the employer’s business premises (whether notified before or after leaving the premises) must be paid for a minimum of 3 hours’ work at the appropriate rates for each time the employee is so recalled. Except in the case of unforeseen circumstances, the employee must not be required to work the full 3 hours if the job they were recalled to perform is completed within a shorter period.

(b)         Clause 24.5(a) does not apply where it is customary for an employee to return to the employer’s premises to perform a specific job outside the employee’s ordinary hours or where the overtime is continuous, subject to a reasonable meal break, with the completion or commencement of ordinary hours.

24.6               Rest period after overtime

(a)          When overtime work is necessary it must, wherever reasonably practicable, be arranged so that an employee has at least 10 consecutive hours off duty between the work of successive working days.

(b)         An employee, other than a casual employee, who works so much overtime between the termination of their ordinary hours on one day and the commencement of their ordinary hours on the next day that the employee has not had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty between those times must, subject to the other provisions of clause 24.6, be released after completion of the overtime until the employee has had 10 consecutive hours off duty without loss of pay for ordinary hours occurring during such absence.

(c)          If on the instructions of the employer an employee resumes or continues work without having had the 10 consecutive hours off duty the employee must be paid of 200% of the ordinary hourly rate until the employee is released from duty for the period. The employee is then entitled to be absent until the employee has had 10 consecutive hours off duty without loss of pay for ordinary hours occurring during the absence.

(d)         The provisions of clause 24.6 apply in the case of a shiftworker as if 8 hours were substituted for 10 hours when overtime is worked:

(i)            for the purpose of changing shift rosters;

(ii)          where a shiftworker does not report for duty and a day worker or a shiftworker is required to replace the shiftworker; or

(iii)        where a shift is worked by arrangement between the employees themselves.

(e)          An employee who has worked continuously, except for meal or crib breaks, for 20 hours must not be required to continue at or recommence work for at least 12 hours.

24.7               Crib breaks

An employee required to work overtime for 2 or more hours after the usual ceasing time for the day or shift is entitled to a paid 20 minute crib break immediately after such ceasing time or payment at overtime rates for the 20 minute crib break. After each 4 hours of continuous overtime, the employee is also entitled to a paid 30 minute crib break.

24.8               Transport of employees

An employee who, after having worked overtime and/or a shift for which they have not been regularly rostered, finishes work at a time when reasonable means of transport are not available must be provided by the employer with transport to, or the cost of transport to, the employee’s usual residence.

24.9               Time off instead of payment for overtime

(a)          Clause 24.9 does not apply to casual employees.

(b)         An employee and employer may agree in writing to the employee taking time off instead of being paid for a particular amount of overtime that has been worked by the employee.

(c)          Any amount of overtime that has been worked by an employee in a particular pay period and that is to be taken as time off instead of the employee being paid for it must be the subject of a separate agreement under clause 24.9.

(d)         An agreement must state each of the following:

(i)            the number of overtime hours to which it applies and when those hours were worked;

(ii)          that the employer and employee agree that the employee may take time off instead of being paid for the overtime;

(iii)        that, if the employee requests at any time, the employer must pay the employee, for overtime covered by the agreement but not taken as time off, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked;

(iv)        that any payment mentioned in clause 24.9(d)(iii) must be made in the next pay period following the request.

NOTE: An example of the type of agreement required by this clause is set out at Schedule I—Agreement for time off instead of payment for overtime. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule I—Agreement for time off instead of payment for overtime. An agreement under clause 24.9 can also be made by an exchange of emails between the employee and employer, or by other electronic means.

(e)          The period of time off that an employee is entitled to take is the same as the number of overtime hours worked.

EXAMPLE: By making an agreement under clause 24.9 an employee who worked 2 overtime hours is entitled to 2 hours’ time off.

(f)           Time off must be taken:

(i)            within the period of 6 months after the overtime is worked; and

(ii)          at a time or times within that period of 6 months agreed by the employee and employer.

(g)          If the employee requests at any time, to be paid for overtime covered by an agreement under clause 24.9 but not taken as time off, the employer must pay the employee for the overtime, in the next pay period following the request, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

(h)         If time off for overtime that has been worked is not taken within the period of 6 months mentioned in clause 24.9(f), the employer must pay the employee for the overtime, in the next pay period following those 6 months, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

(i)            The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 24.9 as an employee record.

(j)           An employer must not exert undue influence or undue pressure on an employee in relation to a decision by the employee to make, or not make, an agreement to take time off instead of payment for overtime.

(k)         An employee may, under section 65 of the Act, request to take time off, at a time or times specified in the request or to be subsequently agreed by the employer and the employee, instead of being paid for overtime worked by the employee. If the employer agrees to the request then clause 24.9 will apply, including the requirement for separate written agreements under clause 24.9(c) for overtime that has been worked.

[Note varied by PR763225 ppc 01Aug23]

NOTE: If an employee makes a request under section 65 of the Act for a change in working arrangements, the employer may only refuse that request on reasonable business grounds (see section 65A(3) of the Act).

(l)            If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, time off for overtime worked by the employee to which clause 24.9 applies has not been taken, the employer must pay the employee for the overtime at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

NOTE: Under section 345(1) of the Act a person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation about the workplace rights of another person under clause 24.9.

25.                 Shiftworkers

[Varied by PR747563]

25.1               Definitions

For the purposes of clause 25:

(a)          Afternoon shift means a shift finishing at or after 9.00 pm and at or before 11.00 pm.

(b)         Night shift means a shift finishing after 11.00 pm and at or before 7.00 am.

(c)          Early morning shift means a shift finishing after 12.30 pm and before 2.00 pm.

(d)         Early afternoon shift means a shift finishing after 7.30 pm and before 9.00 pm.

25.2               Hours of work

(a)          Subject to clause 26—Alternative working arrangement, the ordinary hours for a shiftworker are 8 hours per day, inclusive of meal breaks, Monday to Friday provided that:

(i)            an ordinary night shift commencing before, and extending beyond, midnight Friday is regarded as a Friday shift; and

(ii)          where shiftwork comprises 3 continuous and consecutive shifts of 8 hours each per day, a crib time of 20 minutes duration must be allowed without deduction of pay in each shift, such crib time being instead of any other rest period or cessation of work prescribed elsewhere in this award.

(b)         An employee on shiftwork accrues 0.4 of one hour for each 8 hour shift worked to allow one complete shift to be taken off as a paid shift for every cycle of 20 shifts. The 20th shift must be paid for at the appropriate shift rate as prescribed by clause 25.4.

[25.2(c) varied by PR747563 ppc14Nov22]

(c)          Paid leave taken and public holidays occurring during any cycle of 4 weeks must be regarded as shifts or part-shifts worked for accrual purposes.

(d)         An employee who has not worked a complete 4 week cycle must be paid accrued pro rata entitlements for each shift worked on the programmed shift off or, in the case of termination of employment, on termination.

(e)          The employer and relevant employees must agree in writing on the arrangements for the programmed shift off during the 20 day cycle or for the accumulation of the accrued shifts off, provided that such accumulation must be limited to no more than 5 such accrued shifts off and that when taken, the shifts must be regarded as shifts worked for accrual purposes in the particular 20 shift cycle.

(f)           Where an employer, for emergency reasons, requires an employee to work on the employee’s paid shift off, the employee must be paid, in addition to the employee’s accrued entitlement, at 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

25.3               Stonemasonry work

(a)          Where an employee engaged on stonemasonry work is required to work shiftwork, the hours of duty are between 7.00 am and 11.00 pm, provided that the hours are worked in 2 shifts with 2 sets of employees.

(b)         The first shift must be worked between 7.00 am and 3.00 pm and be paid for at the ordinary hourly rate and the second shift must be worked between 3.00 pm and 11.00 pm and be paid for at 150% of the ordinary hourly rate.

(c)          All time worked between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am must be paid at 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

25.4               Shift rates

(a)          Other than for work on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the rate of pay for afternoon and night shift is 150% of the ordinary hourly rate, provided that the employee is employed continuously for 5 shifts Monday to Friday in any week.

(b)         Other than for work on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the rate of pay for early morning and early afternoon shift is 125% of the ordinary hourly rate, provided that the employee is employed continuously for 5 shifts Monday to Friday in any week.

(c)          A public holiday in any week is not a break in continuity for the purposes of clause 25.4(b).

(d)         An employee who is employed for less than 5 consecutive shifts Monday to Friday must be paid for each day the employee works on shiftwork at 150% of the ordinary hourly rate for the first 2 hours and 200% thereafter.

(e)          When a job finishes after proceeding on shiftwork for more than one week, or the employee terminates their services during the week, the employee must be paid at the rates specified in clause 25.4(a) and 25.4(b) for the time actually worked.

25.5               Overtime and public holiday rates

(a)          A shiftworker who works overtime must be paid overtime in accordance with clause 24—Overtime.

(b)         A shiftworker required to work on a public holiday must be paid for a minimum of 4 hours’ work at the rate of 250% of the ordinary hourly rate.

[25.5(c) inserted by PR747563 ppc14Nov22]

(c)          Hours of work performed immediately before or after a part-day public holiday, that form part of one continuous shift, are counted as part of the minimum payment/engagement period in clause 25.5(b).

 

25.6               Shift notice

(a)          An employee must be given at least 48 hours’ notice of a requirement to work shiftwork.

(b)         The hours for a shiftworker when fixed, must not be altered except for breakdowns or other causes beyond the control of the employer, provided that notice of the alteration must be given to the employee not later than the finishing time of the previous shift.

26.                 Alternative working arrangement

26.1               By written agreement between the employer and the employees, the ordinary hours of work may be altered from those allowed under clauses 16Ordinary hours of work, 18Breaks or 24Overtime to suit the needs of a particular enterprise, factory, workshop or section, provided that:

(a)          where employees employed at the enterprise, factory, workshop or section request that the employer consult with their representatives on the proposed alteration, that consultation takes place at least 5 days prior to the introduction of the proposed alteration;

(b)         the agreement must be made by the majority of employees in the enterprise, factory, workshop or section affected by the alteration; and

(c)          no employee experiences a loss of ordinary time pay or status as a result of the alteration.

26.2               For the purposes of clause 26, section means a clearly identifiable production process.

Part 6—Leave and Public Holidays

27.                 Annual leave

[Varied by PR751052]

27.1               Annual leave is provided for in the NES. Annual leave does not apply to a casual employee.

27.2               Payment for period of annual leave

(a)          Instead of the base rate of pay as referred to in section 90(1) of the Act, an employee under this award, before going on annual leave, must be paid the wages they would have received in respect of the ordinary hours the employee would have worked had the employee not been on leave during the relevant period.

(b)         Subject to clause 27.2(c), the wages to be paid must be worked out on the basis of what the employee would have been paid under this award for working ordinary hours during the period of annual leave, including applicable allowances, loadings and penalties paid for all purposes of the award, first aid allowance, if applicable, and any other wages payable under the employee’s contract of employment including any over-award payment.

(c)          The employee is not entitled to payments in respect of overtime, shift rates, special rates or any other payment which might have been payable to the employee as a reimbursement for expenses incurred.

(d)         Electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment of annual leave

Despite anything else in clause 27, an employee paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) may be paid in accordance with their usual pay cycle while on paid annual leave.

27.3               Annual leave loading

(a)          In addition to the payment prescribed in clause 27.2, during a period of annual leave an employee must be paid a loading of 17.5% calculated on the minimum wages, loadings and allowances by clauses:

(i)            19—Minimum rates;

(ii)          19.5—Apprentice minimum ;

(iii)        19.6—Adult apprentice minimum ;

(iv)        19.9—National training wage;

(v)          Schedule F—Supported Wage System

(vi)        21.3(b), 21.4(a) and 21.4(b) as applicable; and

(vii)      the leading hand rates prescribed by clause 21.3(a) if applicable.

(b)         An employee is also entitled to the 17.5% loading on any proportionate leave on termination.

(c)          An employee who would have worked on shiftwork had they not been on leave must be paid a loading equal to that prescribed in clause 27.3(a) or the shift rates prescribed by this award, whichever is the greater but not both.

27.4               Commencement of annual leave for distant jobs

If an employee is still engaged on a distant job when annual leave is granted and the employee returns by the first reasonable means of transport to the place of engagement (or, if employed prior to going to the distant job, to the place regarded as the headquarters), the employee’s annual leave commences on the first full working day following the employee’s return to such place of engagement or headquarters as the case may be.

27.5               Excessive leave accruals: general provision

NOTE: Clauses 27.5 to 27.7 contain provisions, additional to the NES, about the taking of paid annual leave as a way of dealing with the accrual of excessive paid annual leave. See Part 2.2, Division 6 of the Act.

(a)          An employee has an excessive leave accrual if the employee has accrued more than 8 weeks’ paid annual leave.

(b)         If an employee has an excessive leave accrual, the employer or the employee may seek to confer with the other and genuinely try to reach agreement on how to reduce or eliminate the excessive leave accrual.

(c)          Clause 27.6 sets out how an employer may direct an employee who has an excessive leave accrual to take paid annual leave.

(d)         Clause 27.7 sets out how an employee who has an excessive leave accrual may require an employer to grant paid annual leave requested by the employee.

27.6               Excessive leave accruals: direction by employer that leave be taken

(a)          If an employer has genuinely tried to reach agreement with an employee under clause 27.5(b) but agreement is not reached (including because the employee refuses to confer), the employer may direct the employee in writing to take one or more periods of paid annual leave.

(b)         However, a direction by the employer under clause 27.6(a):

(i)            is of no effect if it would result at any time in the employee’s remaining accrued entitlement to paid annual leave being less than 6 weeks when any other paid annual leave arrangements (whether made under clause 27.5, 27.6 or 27.7 or otherwise agreed by the employer and employee) are taken into account; and

(ii)          must not require the employee to take any period of paid annual leave of less than one week; and

(iii)        must not require the employee to take a period of paid annual leave beginning less than 8 weeks, or more than 12 months, after the direction is given; and

(iv)        must not be inconsistent with any leave arrangement agreed by the employer and employee.

(c)          The employee must take paid annual leave in accordance with a direction under clause 27.6(a) that is in effect.

(d)         An employee to whom a direction has been given under clause 27.6(a) may request to take a period of paid annual leave as if the direction had not been given.

NOTE 1: Paid annual leave arising from a request mentioned in clause 27.6(d) may result in the direction ceasing to have effect. See clause 27.6(b)(i).

NOTE 2: Under section 88(2) of the Act, the employer must not unreasonably refuse to agree to a request by the employee to take paid annual leave.

27.7               Excessive leave accruals: request by employee for leave

(a)          If an employee has genuinely tried to reach agreement with an employer under clause 27.5(b) but agreement is not reached (including because the employer refuses to confer), the employee may give a written notice to the employer requesting to take one or more periods of paid annual leave.

(b)         However, an employee may only give a notice to the employer under clause 27.7(a) if:

(i)            the employee has had an excessive leave accrual for more than 6 months at the time of giving the notice; and

(ii)          the employee has not been given a direction under clause 27.6(a) that, when any other paid annual leave arrangements (whether made under clause 27.5, 27.6 or 27.7 or otherwise agreed by the employer and employee) are taken into account, would eliminate the employee’s excessive leave accrual.

(c)          A notice given by an employee under clause 27.7(a) must not:

(i)            if granted, result in the employee’s remaining accrued entitlement to paid annual leave being at any time less than 6 weeks when any other paid annual leave arrangements (whether made under clause 27.5, 27.6 or 27.7 or otherwise agreed by the employer and employee) are taken into account; or

(ii)          provide for the employee to take any period of paid annual leave of less than one week; or

(iii)        provide for the employee to take a period of paid annual leave beginning less than 8 weeks, or more than 12 months, after the notice is given; or

(iv)        be inconsistent with any leave arrangement agreed by the employer and employee.

(d)         An employee is not entitled to request by a notice under clause 27.7(a) more than 4 weeks’ paid annual leave in any period of 12 months.

(e)          The employer must grant paid annual leave requested by a notice under clause 27.7(a).

27.8               Annual leave in advance

(a)          An employer and employee may agree in writing to the employee taking a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave.

(b)         An agreement must:

(i)            state the amount of leave to be taken in advance and the date on which leave is to commence; and

(ii)          be signed by the employer and employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

NOTE: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 27.8 is set out at Schedule G—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule G—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance.

(c)          The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 27.8 as an employee record.

(d)         If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken in accordance with an agreement under clause 27.8, the employer may deduct from any money due to the employee on termination an amount equal to the amount that was paid to the employee in respect of any part of the period of annual leave taken in advance to which an entitlement has not been accrued.

27.9               Direction to take annual leave during shutdown

[27.9 renamed and substituted by PR751052 ppc 01May23]

(a)          Clause 27.9 applies if an employer:

(i)            intends to shut down all or part of its operation for a particular period in conjunction with the Christmas/New Year period for the purpose of giving the whole of the annual leave owing to all or the majority of the employees in the enterprise or part concerned (temporary shutdown period); and

(ii)          wishes to require affected employees to take paid annual leave during that period.

(b)         The employer must give the affected employees two months’ written notice of a temporary shutdown period, or any shorter period agreed between the employer and the majority of relevant employees.

(c)          The employer must give written notice of a temporary shutdown period to any employee who is engaged after the notice is given under clause 27.9(b) and who will be affected by that period, as soon as reasonably practicable after the employee is engaged.

(d)         The employer may direct the employee to take a period of paid annual leave to which the employee has accrued an entitlement during a temporary shutdown period.

(e)          A direction by the employer under clause 27.9(d):

(i)            must be in writing; and

(ii)          must be reasonable.

(f)           The employee must take paid annual leave in accordance with a direction under clause 27.9(d).

(g)          In respect of any part of a temporary shutdown period which is not the subject of a direction under clause 27.9(d), an employer and an employee may agree, in writing, for the employee to take leave without pay during that part of the temporary shutdown period.

(h)         An employee may take annual leave in advance during a temporary shutdown period in accordance with an agreement under clause 27.8.

(i)            In determining the amount of paid annual leave to which an employee has accrued an entitlement, any period of paid annual leave taken in advance by the employee, in accordance with an agreement under clause 27.8, to which an entitlement has not been accrued, is to be taken into account.

(j)           Clauses 27.5 to 27.7 do not apply to a period of annual leave that an employee is required to take during a temporary shutdown period in accordance with clause 27.9.

27.10           Proportionate leave on termination

On termination of employment, an employee must be paid for annual leave accrued that has not been taken at the appropriate rate calculated in accordance with clauses 27.2 and 27.3.

27.11           Cashing out of annual leave

(a)          Paid annual leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with an agreement under clause 27.11.

(b)         Each cashing out of a particular amount of paid annual leave must be the subject of a separate agreement under clause 27.11.

(c)          An employer and an employee may agree in writing to the cashing out of a particular amount of accrued paid annual leave by the employee.

(d)         An agreement under clause 27.11 must state:

(i)            the amount of leave to be cashed out and the payment to be made to the employee for it; and

(ii)          the date on which the payment is to be made.

(e)          An agreement under clause 27.11 must be signed by the employer and employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

(f)           The payment must not be less than the amount that would have been payable had the employee taken the leave at the time the payment is made.

(g)          An agreement must not result in the employee’s remaining accrued entitlement to paid annual leave being less than 4 weeks.

(h)         The maximum amount of accrued paid annual leave that may be cashed out in any period of 12 months is 2 weeks.

(i)            The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 27.11 as an employee record.

NOTE 1: Under section 344 of the Act, an employer must not exert undue influence or undue pressure on an employee to make, or not make, an agreement under clause 27.11.

NOTE 2: Under section 345(1) of the Act, a person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation about the workplace rights of another person under clause 27.11.

NOTE 3: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 27.11 is set out at Schedule H—Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule H—Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave.

28.                 Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave

28.1               Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave are provided for in the NES.

28.2               If an employee is terminated by their employer and is re-engaged by the same employer within a period of 6 months then the employee’s unclaimed balance of paid personal/carer’s leave continues from the date of re-engagement.

29.                 Parental leave and related entitlements

[29 varied by PR763225 ppc 01Aug23]

Parental leave and related entitlements are provided for in the NES.

NOTE: Disputes about requests for extensions to unpaid parental leave may be dealt with under clause 35—Dispute resolution and/or under section 76B of the Act.

30.                 Community service leave

30.1               Community service leave is provided for in the NES.

30.2               Reimbursement for jury service

A full-time employee required to attend for jury service during their ordinary hours of work must be reimbursed by the employer an amount equal to the difference between the amount paid to the employee in respect of the employee’s attendance for such jury service and the wages the employee would have received in respect of the ordinary hours the employee would have worked had the employee not been on jury service.

31.                 Family and domestic violence leave

[31—Unpaid family and domestic violence leave renamed and substituted by PR750491 ppc 15Mar23]

Family and domestic violence leave is provided for in the NES.

NOTE 1: Information provided to employers concerning an employee’s experience of family and domestic violence is sensitive and if mishandled can have adverse consequences for the employee. Employers are subject to confidentiality requirements regarding the handling of this information under section 106C of the Act and requirements as to what can be reported on payslips pursuant to regulations 3.47 and 3.48 of the Fair Work Regulations 2009.

NOTE 2: Depending upon the circumstances, evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of the employee’s need to take family and domestic violence leave may include a document issued by the police service, a court or family violence support service, or a statutory declaration.

32.                 Public holidays

[Varied by PR747563]

32.1               Public holiday entitlements are provided for in the NES.

32.2               Substitution of certain public holidays by agreement at the enterprise

(a)          An employer and employee may agree to substitute another day for a day that would otherwise be a public holiday under the NES.

(b)         An employer and employee may agree to substitute another part-day for a part-day that would otherwise be a part-day public holiday under the NES.

[32.3 deleted by PR747563 ppc14Nov22]

Part 7—Workplace Delegates, Consultation and Dispute Resolution

[Part 7—Consultation and Dispute Resolution renamed by PR774734 from 01Jul24]

32A. Workplace delegates’ rights

[32A inserted by PR774734 from 01Jul24]

32A.1 Clause 32A provides for the exercise of the rights of workplace delegates set out in section 350C of the Act.

NOTE: Under section 350C(4) of the Act, the employer is taken to have afforded a workplace delegate the rights mentioned in section 350C(3) if the employer has complied with clause 32A.

32A.2 In clause 32A:

(a)          employer means the employer of the workplace delegate;

(b)         delegate’s organisation means the employee organisation in accordance with the rules of which the workplace delegate was appointed or elected; and

(c)          eligible employees means members and persons eligible to be members of the delegate’s organisation who are employed by the employer in the enterprise.

32A.3 Before exercising entitlements under clause 32A, a workplace delegate must give the employer written notice of their appointment or election as a workplace delegate. If requested, the workplace delegate must provide the employer with evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of their appointment or election.

32A.4 An employee who ceases to be a workplace delegate must give written notice to the employer within 14 days.

32A.5 Right of representation

A workplace delegate may represent the industrial interests of eligible employees who wish to be represented by the workplace delegate in matters including:

(a)          consultation about major workplace change;

(b)         consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work;

(c)          resolution of disputes;

(d)         disciplinary processes;

(e)          enterprise bargaining where the workplace delegate has been appointed as a bargaining representative under section 176 of the Act or is assisting the delegate’s organisation with enterprise bargaining; and

(f)           any process or procedure within an award, enterprise agreement or policy of the employer under which eligible employees are entitled to be represented and which concerns their industrial interests.

32A.6 Entitlement to reasonable communication

(a)          A workplace delegate may communicate with eligible employees for the purpose of representing their industrial interests under clause 32A.5. This includes discussing membership of the delegate’s organisation and representation with eligible employees.

(b)         A workplace delegate may communicate with eligible employees during working hours or work breaks, or before or after work.

32A.7 Entitlement to reasonable access to the workplace and workplace facilities

(a) The employer must provide a workplace delegate with access to or use of the following workplace facilities:

(i)            a room or area to hold discussions that is fit for purpose, private and accessible by the workplace delegate and eligible employees;

(ii)          a physical or electronic noticeboard;

(iii)        electronic means of communication ordinarily used in the workplace by the employer to communicate with eligible employees and by eligible employees to communicate with each other, including access to Wi-Fi;

(iv)        a lockable filing cabinet or other secure document storage area; and

(v)          office facilities and equipment including printers, scanners and photocopiers.

(b) The employer is not required to provide access to or use of a workplace facility under clause 32A.7(a) if:

(vi)        the workplace does not have the facility;

(vii)      due to operational requirements, it is impractical to provide access to or use of the facility at the time or in the manner it is sought; or

(viii)    the employer does not have access to the facility at the enterprise and is unable to obtain access after taking reasonable steps.

32A.8 Entitlement to reasonable access to training

Unless the employer is a small business employer, the employer must provide a workplace delegate with access to up to 5 days of paid time during normal working hours for initial training and at least one day each subsequent year, to attend training related to representation of the industrial interests of eligible employees, subject to the following conditions:

(a)          In each year commencing 1 July, the employer is not required to provide access to paid time for training to more than one workplace delegate per 50 eligible employees.

(b)         The number of eligible employees will be determined on the day a delegate requests paid time to attend training, as the number of eligible employees who are:

(i)            full-time or part-time employees; or

(ii)          regular casual employees.

(c)          Payment for a day of paid time during normal working hours is payment of the amount the workplace delegate would have been paid for the hours the workplace delegate would have been rostered or required to work on that day if the delegate had not been absent from work to attend the training.

(d)         The workplace delegate must give the employer not less than 5 weeks’ notice (unless the employer and delegate agree to a shorter period of notice) of the dates, subject matter, the daily start and finish times of the training, and the name of the training provider.

(e)          If requested by the employer, the workplace delegate must provide the employer with an outline of the training content.

(f)           The employer must advise the workplace delegate not less than 2 weeks from the day on which the training is scheduled to commence, whether the workplace delegate’s access to paid time during normal working hours to attend the training has been approved. Such approval must not be unreasonably withheld.

(g)          The workplace delegate must, within 7 days after the day on which the training ends, provide the employer with evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of their attendance at the training.

32A.9 Exercise of entitlements under clause 32A

(a)          A workplace delegate’s entitlements under clause 32A are subject to the conditions that the workplace delegate must, when exercising those entitlements:

(i)            comply with their duties and obligations as an employee;

(ii)          comply with the reasonable policies and procedures of the employer, including reasonable codes of conduct and requirements in relation to occupational health and safety and acceptable use of ICT resources;

(iii)        not hinder, obstruct or prevent the normal performance of work; and

(iv)        not hinder, obstruct or prevent eligible employees exercising their rights to freedom of association.

(b)         Clause 32A does not require the employer to provide a workplace delegate with access to electronic means of communication in a way that provides individual contact details for eligible employees.

(c)          Clause 32A does not require an eligible employee to be represented by a workplace delegate without the employee’s agreement.

NOTE: Under section 350A of the Act, the employer must not:

(a) unreasonably fail or refuse to deal with a workplace delegate; or

(b) knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation to a workplace delegate; or

(c) unreasonably hinder, obstruct or prevent the exercise of the rights of a workplace delegate under the Act or clause 32A.

33.                 Consultation about major workplace change

33.1               If an employer makes a definite decision to make major changes in production, program, organisation, structure or technology that are likely to have significant effects on employees, the employer must:

(a)          give notice of the changes to all employees who may be affected by them and their representatives (if any); and

(b)         discuss with affected employees and their representatives (if any):

(i)            the introduction of the changes; and

(ii)          their likely effect on employees; and

(iii)        measures to avoid or reduce the adverse effects of the changes on employees; and

(c)          commence discussions as soon as practicable after a definite decision has been made.

33.2               For the purposes of the discussion under clause 33.1(b), the employer must give in writing to the affected employees and their representatives (if any) all relevant information about the changes including:

(a)          their nature; and

(b)         their expected effect on employees; and

(c)          any other matters likely to affect employees.

33.3               Clause 33.2 does not require an employer to disclose any confidential information if its disclosure would be contrary to the employer’s interests.

33.4               The employer must promptly consider any matters raised by the employees or their representatives about the changes in the course of the discussion under clause 33.1(b).

33.5               In clause 33 significant effects, on employees, includes any of the following:

(a)          termination of employment; or

(b)         major changes in the composition, operation or size of the employer’s workforce or in the skills required; or

(c)          loss of, or reduction in, job or promotion opportunities; or

(d)         loss of, or reduction in, job tenure; or

(e)          alteration of hours of work; or

(f)           the need for employees to be retrained or transferred to other work or locations; or

(g)          job restructuring.

33.6               Where this award makes provision for alteration of any of the matters defined at clause 33.5, such alteration is taken not to have significant effect.

34.                 Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work

34.1               Clause 34 applies if an employer proposes to change the regular roster or ordinary hours of work of an employee, other than an employee whose working hours are irregular, sporadic or unpredictable.

34.2               The employer must consult with any employees affected by the proposed change and their representatives (if any).

34.3               For the purpose of the consultation, the employer must:

(a)          provide to the employees and representatives mentioned in clause 34.2 information about the proposed change (for example, information about the nature of the change and when it is to begin); and

(b)         invite the employees to give their views about the impact of the proposed change on them (including any impact on their family or caring responsibilities) and also invite their representative (if any) to give their views about that impact.

34.4               The employer must consider any views given under clause 34.3(b).

34.5               Clause 34 is to be read in conjunction with any other provisions of this award concerning the scheduling of work or the giving of notice.

35.                 Dispute resolution

[Varied by PR763225, PR777256, PR777991]

35.1               Clause 35 sets out the procedures to be followed if a dispute arises about a matter under this award or in relation to the NES.

35.2               The parties to the dispute must first try to resolve the dispute at the workplace through discussion between the employee or employees concerned and the relevant supervisor.

35.3               If the dispute is not resolved through discussion as mentioned in clause 35.2, the parties to the dispute must then try to resolve it in a timely manner at the workplace through discussion between the employee or employees concerned and more senior levels of management, as appropriate.

35.4               If the dispute is unable to be resolved at the workplace and all appropriate steps have been taken under clauses 35.2 and 35.3, a party to the dispute may refer it to the Fair Work Commission.

35.5               The parties may agree on the process to be followed by the Fair Work Commission in dealing with the dispute, including mediation, conciliation and consent arbitration.

35.6               If the dispute remains unresolved, the Fair Work Commission may use any method of dispute resolution that it is permitted by the Act to use and that it considers appropriate for resolving the dispute.

35.7               A party to the dispute may appoint a person, organisation or association to support and/or represent them in any discussion or process under clause 35.

35.8               While procedures are being followed under clause 35 in relation to a dispute:

(a)          work must continue in accordance with this award and the Act; and

(b)         an employee must not unreasonably fail to comply with any direction given by the employer about performing work, whether at the same or another workplace, that is safe and appropriate for the employee to perform.

35.9               Clause 35.8 is subject to any applicable work health and safety legislation.

[Note 1 and Note 2 inserted by PR763225; deleted by PR777991 from 26Aug24]

[Note inserted by PR777991 from 26Aug24; varied by PR777256 from 27Aug24]

NOTE: In addition to clause 35, the Act contains dispute resolution procedures as follows:

For a dispute about rights under the Act to

Section

Request flexible working arrangements

65B

Change casual employment status

66M

Request an extension to unpaid parental leave

76B

Exercise an employee’s right to disconnect

333N

   

Part 8—Termination of Employment and Redundancy

36.                 Termination of employment

NOTE: The NES sets out requirements for notice of termination by an employer. See sections 117 and 123 of the Act.

36.1               Notice of termination by an employee

(a)          Clause 36.1 applies to all employees except those identified in sections 123(1) and 123(3) of the Act.

(b)         An employee must give the employer notice of termination in accordance with Table—1—Period of notice of at least the period specified in column 2 according to the period of continuous service of the employee specified in column 1.

Table 1—Period of notice

Column 1

Employee’s period of continuous service with the employer at the end of the day the notice is given

Column 2

Period of notice

Not more than 1 year

1 week

More than 1 year but not more than 3 years

2 weeks

More than 3 years but not more than 5 years

3 weeks

More than 5 years

4 weeks

NOTE: The notice of termination required to be given by an employee is the same as that required of an employer except that the employee does not have to give additional notice based on the age of the employee.

(c)          In clause 36.1(b) continuous service has the same meaning as in section 117 of the Act.

(d)         If an employee who is at least 18 years old does not give the period of notice required under clause 36.1(b), then the employer may deduct from wages due to the employee under this award an amount that is no more than one week’s wages for the employee.

(e)          If the employer has agreed to a shorter period of notice than that required under clause 36.1(b), then no deduction can be made under clause 36.1(d).

(f)           Any deduction made under clause 36.1(d) must not be unreasonable in the circumstances.

36.2               Job search entitlement

(a)          Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b)         The time off under clause 36.2 is to be taken at times that are convenient to the employee after consultation with the employer.

37.                 Redundancy

NOTE: Redundancy pay is provided for in the NES. See sections 119 to 123 of the Act. Clause 37.4 supplements the NES by providing redundancy pay for employees of a small business employer.

37.1               Transfer to lower paid duties on redundancy

(a)          Clause 37.1 applies if, because of redundancy, an employee is transferred to new duties to which a lower ordinary rate of pay applies.

(b)         The employer may:

(i)            give the employee notice of the transfer of at least the same length as the employee would be entitled to under section 117 of the Act as if it were a notice of termination given by the employer; or

(ii)          transfer the employee to the new duties without giving notice of transfer or before the expiry of a notice of transfer, provided that the employer pays the employee as set out in clause 37.1(c).

(c)          If the employer acts as mentioned in clause 37.1(b)(ii), the employee is entitled to a payment of an amount equal to the difference between the ordinary rate of pay of the employee (inclusive of all-purpose allowances, shift rates and penalty rates applicable to ordinary hours) for the hours of work the employee would have worked in the first role, and the ordinary rate of pay (also inclusive of all-purpose allowances, shift rates and penalty rates applicable to ordinary hours) of the employee in the second role for the period for which notice was not given.

37.2               Employee leaving during redundancy notice period

(a)          An employee given notice of termination in circumstances of redundancy may terminate their employment during the minimum period of notice prescribed by section 117(3) of the Act.

(b)         The employee is entitled to receive the benefits and payments they would have received under clause 37 or under sections 119 to 123 of the Act had they remained in employment until the expiry of the notice.

(c)          However, the employee is not entitled to be paid for any part of the period of notice remaining after the employee ceased to be employed.

37.3               Job search entitlement

(a)          Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee in circumstances of redundancy, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day each week of the minimum period of notice prescribed by section 117(3) of the Act for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b)         If an employee is allowed time off without loss of pay of more than one day under clause 37.3(a), the employee must, at the request of the employer, produce proof of attendance at an interview.

(c)          A statutory declaration is sufficient for the purpose of clause 37.3(b).

(d)         An employee who fails to produce proof when required under clause 37.3(b) is not entitled to be paid for the time off.

(e)          This entitlement applies instead of clause 36.2.

37.4               Redundancy pay for employee of small business employer

(a)          Clause 37.4 applies to an employee of a small business employer except for an employee who is excluded from redundancy pay under the NES by sections 121(1)(a), 123(1), 123(4)(a) or 123(4)(d) of the Act.

(b)         In clause 37.4(a) an employee is an employee of a small business employer if, immediately before the time the employee’s employment is terminated, or at the time when the employee is given notice of termination as described in section 117(1) of the Act (whichever happens first), the employer is a small business employer as defined by section 23 of the Act.

(c)          Subject to clauses 37.4(f) and 37.4(g), an employee is entitled to be paid redundancy pay by the employer if the employee’s employment is terminated:

(i)            at the employer’s initiative because the employer no longer requires the job done by the employee to be done by anyone, except where this is due to the ordinary and customary turnover of labour; or

(ii)          because of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the employer.

(d)         The amount of the redundancy pay in clause 37.4(c) equals the total amount payable to the employee for the redundancy pay period specified in column 2 of Table 2—Redundancy pay period according to the period of continuous service of the employee specified in column 1, worked out at the employee’s base rate of pay for his or her ordinary hours of work.

Table 2—Redundancy pay period

Column 1

Employee’s period of continuous service with the employer on termination

Column 2

Redundancy pay period

Less than 1 year

Nil

At least 1 year but less than 2 years

4 weeks

At least 2 years but less than 3 years

6 weeks

At least 3 years but less than 4 years

7 weeks

At least 4 years and over

8 weeks

(e)