This Fair Work Commission consolidated modern award incorporates all amendments up to and including 27 August 2024 (PR777284 and PR778022).
Clause(s) affected by the most recent variation(s):
11—Casual employees
13A—Employee right to disconnect
29—Dispute resolution
Table of Contents
[Varied by PR746868, PR747366, PR750429, PR774766, PR778022]
Part 1— Application and Operation of this Award
3. The National Employment Standards and this award
5. Individual flexibility arrangements
6. Requests for flexible working arrangements
Part 2— Types of Employment and Classifications
13. Ordinary hours of work and rostering
13A. Employee right to disconnect
Part 5— Overtime, Shiftwork and Penalty Rates
20. Shiftwork and penalty rates
Part 6— Leave and Public Holidays
22. Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave
23. Parental leave and related entitlements
25. Family and domestic violence leave
Part 7— Workplace Delegates, Consultation and Dispute Resolution
26A. Workplace delegates’ rights
27. Consultation about major workplace change
28. Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work
Part 8— Termination of Employment and Redundancy
Schedule A —Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay
Schedule B —Summary of Monetary Allowances
Schedule C —Supported Wage System
Schedule D —Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime
Part 1—Application and Operation of this Award
1. Title and commencement
1.1 This award is the Asphalt Industry 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.
[Varied by PR733872, PR774766, PR777284]
In this award, unless the contrary intention appears:
Act means the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
afternoon shift means any shift starting at or after 10.00 am and before 8.00 pm.
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, loadings or payment while they are on annual leave (see clause 17.2(a)).
asphalt industry has the meaning given in clause 4.2.
[Definition of casual employee inserted by PR733872 from 27Sep21; varied by PR777284 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.
casual ordinary hourly rate means the hourly rate for the employee’s classification specified in clause 15—Minimum rates plus the casual loading, industry allowance and inclement weather allowance.
day shift means any shift starting at or after 6.00 am and before 10.00 am.
default fund employee means an employee who has no chosen fund within the meaning of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).
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 PR774766 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 PR774766 from 01Jul24]
enterprise has the meaning given by section 12 of the Act.
inclement weather means wet weather and/or abnormal climatic conditions such as hail, cold, high winds, severe dust storms, extreme high temperatures or any combination thereof.
NES means the National Employment Standards as contained in sections 59 to 131 of the Act.
night shift means any shift starting at or after 8.00 pm and before 6.00 am.
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.
ordinary hourly rate means the hourly rate for the employee’s classification specified in clause 15—Minimum rates, plus any allowances specified as being included in the employee’s ordinary hourly rate or payable for all purposes.
rostered shift means any shift of which the employee concerned has had at least 48 hours’ notice.
[Definition of small business employer inserted by PR774766 from 01Jul24]
small business employer has the meaning given by section 23 of the Act.
standard rate means the minimum weekly rate for a Skill level 3 in clause 15.1.
[Definition of workplace delegate inserted by PR774766 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 this 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.
4.1 This industry award covers employers throughout Australia in the asphalt industry and their employees in the classifications listed in clause 12.4—Classification definitions to the exclusion of any other modern award.
4.3 This award covers any employer which supplies labour on an on-hire basis in the asphalt industry 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. Clause 4.3 operates subject to the exclusions from coverage in this award.
4.4 This award covers employers which provide group training services for trainees engaged in the asphalt industry and/or parts of that industry and those trainees engaged by a group training service hosted by a company to perform work at a location where the activities described in clauses 4.1 and 4.2 are being performed. Clause 4.4 operates subject to the exclusions from coverage in this award.
4.5 This award does not cover:
(a) employees excluded from award coverage by the Act;
(b) 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; or
(c) 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.
NOTE: Where there is no classification for a particular employee in this award it is possible that the employer and that employee are covered by an award with occupational coverage.
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
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
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 PR763251 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 29—Dispute resolution and/or under section 65B of the Act.
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:
Clause |
Provision |
Agreement between an employer and: |
13.2(b) |
Ordinary hours of work—employees other than shiftworkers |
The majority of employees |
13.4 |
Method of arranging working hours |
An individual or the majority of employees |
14.5(c) |
Overtime meal break |
An individual |
16.1 |
Payment of wages |
An individual |
19.4 |
Time off instead of overtime payment |
An individual |
20.1(b) |
Shiftwork and penalty rates—Definitions (span of hours) |
The majority of employees |
20.3(b) |
Hours of work—shiftworkers |
The majority of employees |
21.9 |
Annual leave in advance |
An individual |
21.10 |
Cashing out of annual leave |
An individual |
26.5 |
Substitution of public holidays by agreement |
An individual |
Part 2—Types of Employment and Classifications
8.1 Employees under this award will be employed in one of the following categories:
(a) full-time;
(b) part-time; or
(c) casual.
9. Full-time employees
A full-time employee is employed to work an average of 38 ordinary hours per week.
10. Part-time employees
(a) is engaged to work an average of less than 38 ordinary hours per week; and
(b) receives, on a pro rata basis, equivalent pay and conditions to those of full-time employees who do the same kind of work.
[Varied by PR723853, PR733872, PR777284]
[11.1 deleted by PR733872 from 27Sep21]
[11.2 renumbered as 11.1 by PR733872 from 27Sep21]
11.1 A casual employee’s ordinary hours of work are the lesser of:
(a) an average of 38 hours per week; or
(b) the hours required to be worked by the employer.
[11.3 renumbered as 11.2 by PR733872 from 27Sep21]
11.2 A casual employee will receive a minimum of 4 hours’ pay per engagement.
11.3 Casual loading
[11.4 substituted by PR723853 ppc 20Nov20; 11.4 renumbered as 11.3 by PR733872 from 27Sep21]
For each ordinary hour worked, a casual employee must be paid:
(a) the ordinary hourly rate for the classification in which they are employed in clause 15—Minimum rates; plus
(b) a loading of 25% of the ordinary hourly rate.
[11.5 renumbered as 11.4 by PR733872 from 27Sep21]
11.4 The casual loading constitutes part of the casual employee’s all-purpose rate.
[11.6 renumbered as 11.5 by PR733872 from 27Sep21]
11.5 The casual loading is paid instead of annual leave, paid personal/carer’s leave, notice of termination, redundancy benefits and other entitlements of full-time or part-time employment.
11.6 Payment for working overtime
[New 11.7 inserted by PR723853 ppc 20Nov20; 11.7 renumbered as 11.6 by PR733872 from 27Sep21]
When a casual employee works overtime, they must be paid the overtime rates in clauses 19.2 and 20.5.
11.7 Changes to casual employment status
[11.7 renumbered as 11.8 by PR723853 ppc 20Nov20; 11.8 renumbered as 11.7 and renamed and substituted by PR733872; renamed and substituted by PR777284 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 29—Dispute resolution.
12.1 A description of the classifications under this award is set out at clause 12.4.
12.2 All employees covered by this award must be classified according to the structure set out at clause 12.4. Employers must advise their employees in writing of their classification and any changes to their classification.
12.3 The classification by the employer must be according to the skill level or levels required to be exercised by the employee in order to carry out the principal functions of the employment as determined by the employer.
12.4 Classification definitions
(a) Skill level 1
Skill level 1 is an employee who has no experience in the industry and who may be undertaking up to 38 hours induction training.
(b) Skill level 2
Skill level 2 is an employee who has completed the employer’s induction course and/or is undertaking up to 3 months’ on-the-job training and is not undertaking a traineeship.
(c) Skill level 3
Skill level 3 is an employee who has completed up to 3 months’ on-the-job training; is capable of working productively under routine supervision; but is not yet a fully productive member of a spray or paving crew.
(d) Skill level 4
Skill level 4 is a multi-skilled employee who is assessed by the employer to be competent to perform all of the duties required within the work team.
(i) Typically this will mean that the employee has an endorsed licence for the operation of heavy vehicles, is competent in the operation of the major pieces of plant and equipment utilised in the work team and who can perform all manual tasks in the work team.
(ii) In asphalt production plants this will mean an employee who is deemed competent to operate the plant with a minimum of supervision.
(e) Skill level 5
Skill level 5 is an employee who has been appointed by the employer to be in charge of a mixing plant or to lead a spray or paving crew.
13. Ordinary hours of work and rostering
[Varied by PR747366]
(b) Full-time employees will work 8 hours each day.
(c) 0.4 of one hour of each day worked will accrue as an entitlement to take a paid rostered day off in each 4 week cycle.
(d) The ordinary hours of part-time and casual employees will be in accordance with clauses 10—Part-time employees and 11—Casual employees .
13.2 Ordinary hours of work—employees other than shiftworkers
(a) The ordinary hours of work for employees are between 6.00 am and 6.00 pm Monday to Friday.
(c) Employees may be required to work up to 10 ordinary hours per day.
13.3 Rostered days off—employees other than shiftworkers
(a) Scheduled rostered days off may be deferred and accumulated up to a maximum of 4 rostered days off, where the employer and individual employees agree.
(b) An alternative day in the 4 week cycle may be substituted for the scheduled rostered day off where the employer (or their representative) and a majority of employees in any work section agree. All provisions of this award will apply as if the alternative rostered day off was the scheduled rostered day off.
[13.3(c) varied by PR747366 ppc 14Nov22]
(d) An employee who has not worked, or is not regarded by reason of clause 13.3(c) as having worked, a complete 4 week cycle will receive pro rata accrued entitlements for each day worked (or each fraction of a day worked) or regarded as having been worked in that cycle, payable for the rostered day off, or in the case of termination of employment, on termination.
(e) The accrued rostered day off prescribed in clause 13.3 will be taken as a paid day off.
(f) An employee may be required to work on a rostered day off where it is necessary:
· to allow other employees to be employed productively;
· to carry out maintenance outside ordinary working hours;
· because of unforeseen delays to a particular project or a section of it; or
· for other reasons arising from unforeseen or emergency circumstances on a project.
(g) Where the employee is required to work on a scheduled rostered day off they will take one paid day off before the end of the next work cycle, and the employee must be paid for the day worked at the rates prescribed for Saturday work in clause 20.6.
13.4 Methods of arranging working hours
(b) Clause 13.4(a) does not prevent the employer reaching agreement with individual employees about how their working hours are to be arranged.
(c) Matters upon which agreement may be reached include:
(i) how the hours are to be averaged within a work cycle;
(ii) the duration of the work cycle for employees other than shiftworkers provided that such duration will not exceed 3 months;
(iii) rosters which specify the starting and finishing times of working hours;
(iv) a period of notice of a rostered day off which is less than 4 weeks;
(v) substitution of rostered days off;
(vi) accumulation of rostered days off;
(vii) arrangements which allow for flexibility in relation to the taking of rostered days off; and
(viii) any arrangements of ordinary hours which exceed 8 hours in any day.
13.5 Twelve hour shifts
(a) By agreement between the employer and the majority of employees in the enterprise or part of the enterprise concerned, 12 hour days or shifts may be introduced subject to:
· proper health monitoring procedures being introduced;
· suitable roster arrangements being made;
· proper supervision being provided; and
· adequate breaks being provided.
(b) Employees may be required to work on their rostered day off and if so will be granted a day off within 14 days of the original rostered day off.
For work performed on a shift that spans the time when daylight saving begins or ends, as prescribed by relevant state or territory legislation, an employee will be paid according to adjusted time (i.e. the time on the clock at the beginning of work and the time on the clock at the end of work).
Examples
Daylight saving begins
Larry works in New South Wales where daylight saving is due to begin at 2.00 am on the first Sunday in October. At 2.00 am the clock will go forward one hour to 3.00 am.
Larry is rostered to work the night shift that evening from 10.00 pm to 6.30 am. Larry will work for 7.5 hours but he will be paid according to the difference in time on the clock which is 8.5 hours.
Daylight saving ends
Nadia works in Victoria where daylight saving is due to end at 3.00 am on the first Sunday in April. At 3.00 am the clock will go back one hour to 2.00 am.
Nadia is rostered to work the night shift that evening from 10.00 pm to 6.30 am.
Nadia will work for 9.5 hours but she will be paid according to the difference in time on the clock which is 8.5 hours.
13A. Employee right to disconnect
[13A inserted by PR778022 from 26Aug24]
13A.1 Clause 13A 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.
13A.2 Clause 13A 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.
13A.3 An employer must not directly or indirectly prevent an employee from exercising their right to disconnect under the Act.
13A.4 Clause 13A.3 does not prevent an employer from requiring an employee to monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact, from the employer outside of the employee’s working hours where:
(a) the employee is being paid for standing by under clause 19.6(b); and
(b) the employer’s contact is to notify the employee that they are required to attend or perform work or give other notice about the stand-by.
13A.5 Clause 13A.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 19.6(a).
14.1 Meal breaks
(a) Paid meal break—shiftworkers
A shiftworker working 10 hours or less will be entitled to a paid meal break of 30 minutes per shift.
(b) Unpaid meal break—employees other than shiftworkers
An employee is entitled to an unpaid meal break of not less than 30 minutes after every 5 hours worked.
14.2 Paid rest breaks—employees other than shiftworkers
(a) One paid rest break of 15 minutes or 2 paid rest breaks of 7.5 minutes each must be provided on each day worked.
(b) The employer will fix the time for the commencement of the rest break and this break will not involve a complete stoppage of work.
14.3 Scheduling of breaks
Breaks will be scheduled by the employee’s supervisor based upon operational requirements so as to ensure continuity of operations. The employer will not require an employee to work more than 5 hours before their first meal break or between subsequent meal breaks, if any.
14.4 Working during meal breaks
(a) Subject to clause 14.4(b), employees called to work during recognised meal breaks will be paid at overtime rates for all time worked until they receive a meal break of the usual period.
(a) An employee must be allowed a 20 minute paid meal break after:
(i) 2 hours of work past the normal finishing time; and
(ii) each additional 4 hours of continuous overtime,
provided that the employee is to continue working after the paid meal break.
(b) For the purpose of clause 14.5(a), the amount of time worked by an employee does not include time spent travelling from a job back to the depot.
(c) An employer and employee may agree to any variation of clause 14.5(a) to meet the circumstances of the work in hand, provided that the employer is not required to make any payment in excess of or less than what would otherwise be required under clause 14.5(a).
[Varied by PR720159, PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938]
[15.1 varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
15.1 An employer must pay adult employees the following minimum rates for ordinary hours worked by the employee.
Employee classification |
Minimum weekly rate |
Minimum hourly rate |
|
$ |
$ |
Skill Level 1 |
891.50 |
23.46 |
Skill Level 2 |
941.00 |
24.76 |
Skill Level 3 |
978.50 |
25.75 |
Skill Level 4 |
1032.50 |
27.17 |
Skill Level 5 |
1041.40 |
27.41 |
NOTE: See Schedule A—Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay for a summary of hourly rates of pay including overtime and penalty rates.
An employee required by the employer to perform the work of a position at a higher classification level must be paid at the rate applicable for that higher level for all work done on that day/shift.
For employees who because of the effects of a disability are eligible for a supported wage, see Schedule C—Supported Wage System.
[15.4(a) varied by PR720159 ppc 18Jun20]
(a) Schedule E to the Miscellaneous Award 2020 sets out minimum wage rates and conditions for employees undertaking traineeships.
[15.4(b) varied by PR720159, PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
(b) This award incorporates the terms of Schedule E to the Miscellaneous Award 2020 as at 1 July 2024. Provided that any reference to “this award” in Schedule E to the Miscellaneous Award 2020 is to be read as referring to the Asphalt Industry Award 2020 and not the Miscellaneous Award 2020.
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.
16.2 Method of payment
An employer may pay an employee’s wages by cash, cheque or electronic funds transfer into the employee’s bank or other recognised financial institution account.
16.3 Day off coinciding with pay day
Where an employee is paid wages by cash or cheque and the employee is, not rostered to work on pay day, the employee must be paid no later than the working day immediately following pay day. However, if the employer is able to make suitable arrangements, wages may be paid on the working day preceding pay day.
16.4 Wages to be paid during working hours
(a) Where an employee is paid wages by cash or cheque, such wages are to be paid during the employee’s ordinary hours.
(b) If an employee is paid wages by cash and is kept waiting for their wages on pay day after the usual time for ceasing work, the employee is to be paid at overtime rates for the period they are kept waiting.
16.5 Payment on termination of employment
(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 16.5(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 16.5(b) allows the Commission to make an order delaying the requirement to make a payment under clause 16.5. 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.
[Varied by PR718872, PR719025, PR729312, PR729497, PR740734, PR740902, PR762163, PR762329, PR773938, PR774109]
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.
17.1 Employers must pay to an employee any allowances the employee is entitled to under clause 17. Where an employee is paid by the hour, the allowances will be 1/38th of the weekly allowance.
NOTE: See Schedule B—Summary of Monetary Allowances for a summary of monetary allowances and the method of adjustment.
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, loadings or payment while they are on annual leave. The following allowances are paid for all purposes under this award:
(i) industry allowance (clause 17.2(b))
(ii) inclement weather allowance (clause 17.2(c))
[17.2(b) varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
An industry allowance of $39.14 per week is payable to all employees. The industry allowance is payable for all purposes.
(c) Inclement weather allowance
[17.2(c)(i) varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
· all the additional disabilities of being required to work when exposed to inclement weather; and
· working in isolated and under-developed locations.
(iv) For the purpose of clause 17.2(c), inclement weather means wet weather and/or abnormal climatic conditions such as hail, cold, high winds, severe dust storms, extreme high temperatures or any combination thereof.
(v) Inclement weather allowance is payable for all purposes.
(vi) Where employees cannot be gainfully employed on their normal duties or on other productive work because of wet weather, they will carry out alternative work out of the rain, where available.
[17.2(d) varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
A first aid allowance of $3.91 per day is payable to an employee if:
· the employee is appointed by the employer to perform first aid duties; and
· the employee holds a current first aid certificate.
[17.2(e) varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
A leading hand is paid an allowance of $34.25 per week.
17.3 Expense-related allowances
[17.3(a) varied by PR719025, PR729497, PR740902, PR762329, PR774109 ppc 01Jul24]
Except where the meals required by clause 17.3(a) are provided by the employer, a meal allowance of $19.21 per occasion is payable to an employee who is required to work overtime for:
(ii) 5.5 hours or more beyond the employee’s usual finishing time and every 4 hours thereafter.
(b) Protective and special clothing and equipment allowance
(i) Where an employee is required to wear protective clothing and equipment such as safety boots, headwear or wet-weather clothing, the employer must reimburse the employee for the cost of purchasing such clothing and equipment, except where the clothing and equipment is paid for by the employer.
(ii) Where the employer requires an employee to wear any special clothing such as uniforms, the employer must reimburse the employee for the cost of purchasing 3 sets of uniforms, except where the special clothing is paid for by the employer.
(iii) Where the protective clothing or uniforms are supplied to the employee without cost, the protective clothing or uniforms:
· will remain the property of the employer; and
· must be returned in good condition to the employer (subject to fair wear and tear) on the employee leaving the service of the employer.
(iv) If an employee leaves the service of the employer within 6 months of commencement of employment and does not return all clothing issued, the employee will be liable for 50% of the cost of such clothing.
Where an employer requires an employee to provide and use any tools, the employer must reimburse the employee for the cost of purchasing such tools, except where the employer supplies the tools without cost to the employee.
(d) Country and distant work—travelling allowances
Where an employee:
· is sent by the employer from the city to the country, or from one country centre to another country centre, or from a country centre to the city; or
· remains until the completion of the job, or until the special work on which they were sent to perform is completed and no other work is provided by the employer,
they will be:
· reimbursed for fares back to the place of employment; or
· paid an allowance equivalent to the actual cost of the fares.
[17.3(d)(ii) varied by PR719025, PR729497, PR740902, PR762329, PR774109 ppc 01Jul24]
Except where meals and accommodation are provided by the employer, an allowance is payable to an employee:
(e) Distant work—accommodation and incidentals allowances
[17.3(e)(i) varied by PR719025, PR729497, PR740902, PR762329 ppc 01Jul23]
· an allowance of $702.12 per week for reasonable board and lodging (which will not be wages); or
except where the employer provides reasonable board and lodging.
[17.3(e)(ii) varied by PR719025, PR729497, PR740902, PR762329 ppc 01Jul23]
(ii) In addition to the allowance in clause 17.3(e)(i), an allowance of $7.49 per night will be paid to each employee for incidentals.
(f) Distant work—return home allowance
(i) Where an employee is entitled under clause 17.3(f)(ii) to return home from distant work for a weekend, the employer must reimburse the cost of fares reasonably incurred by the employee or provide transport at the employer’s cost.
(ii) Subject to clause 17.3(f)(iii), the entitlement to return home from distant work for a weekend will only accrue:
· where distant work continues for more than 2 months; and
· at a rate of one weekend every 4 weeks after the completion of 2 months’ continuous service on distant work.
(iii) Fares will not be payable by the employer unless:
· the employee works their full ordinary hours on the ordinary working day before, and the ordinary working day after, the relevant weekend; and
· the distant work continues for at least 2 weeks after the relevant weekend.
(g) Distant work—travelling time
(i) Subject to clause 17.3(g)(iii), where an employee is sent from one centre to another and is required to remain away from home while necessarily travelling between such centres, the rate of pay for the travelling time will be at ordinary rates.
(ii) The maximum time to be paid for when travelling will be 8 hours per day in addition to wages otherwise earned for work performed.
(iii) Clause 17.3(g) will not alter any current practice.
18.1 Superannuation contributions for defined benefit members
An employer is permitted to make superannuation contributions to a superannuation fund or scheme in relation to a default fund employee who is a defined benefit member of the fund or scheme.
Part 5—Overtime, Shiftwork and Penalty Rates
[Varied by PR723853, PR763251]
(a) For a full-time or casual employee other than a shiftworker, overtime is any time worked:
(i) in excess of the ordinary hours of work specified in clause 13.1; or
(ii) outside of the ordinary hours of work specified in clause 13.2.
(b) For a part-time employee, hours worked in excess of the employee’s ordinary hours (agreed in accordance with clauses 10.3 and 10.4) will be overtime and paid at the appropriate overtime rate.
(c) In computing overtime, each day’s work will stand alone.
(d) Overtime does not include any time spent:
(i) by an employee in the course of travelling to or from any yard, camp, depot or picking up place of the employer; or
(ii) going into a place of work for the purpose of starting work, or in the course of returning after ceasing work.
19.2 Overtime rates for employees other than shiftworkers
[19.2 varied by PR723853 ppc 20Nov20]
Where an employee works overtime the employer must pay to the employee the overtime rates as follows:
For overtime worked on |
Overtime rate |
Overtime rate |
Minimum payment |
|
% of ordinary hourly rate |
% of casual ordinary hourly rate |
|
Monday to Friday—first 2 hours |
150 |
150 |
– |
Monday to Friday—after 2 hours |
200 |
200 |
– |
Saturday—first 2 hours |
150 |
150 |
4 hours |
Saturday—after 2 hours |
200 |
200 |
4 hours |
Sunday all day |
200 |
200 |
4 hours |
Public holiday |
250 |
250 |
see clause 26.3 |
NOTE 1: See Schedule A—Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay for a summary of hourly rates of pay including overtime and penalty rates.
NOTE 2: See clause 20.5 for overtime rates for shiftworkers.
[Note inserted by PR723853 ppc 20Nov20]
NOTE 3: The casual ordinary hourly rate includes the casual loading prescribed by clause 11.3(b), as defined in clause 2—Definitions.
An employee required to work overtime is entitled to breaks in accordance with clause 14.5.
19.4 Time off instead of payment for overtime
(a) 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) 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;
(iv) that any payment mentioned in clause 19.4(c)(iii) must be made in the next pay period following the request.
NOTE: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 19.4 is set out at Schedule D—Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule D—Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime.An agreement under clause 19.4 can also be made by an exchange of emails between the employee and employer, or by other electronic means.
(d) 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 19.4 an employee who worked 2 overtime hours is entitled to 2 hours’ time off.
(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.
(f) If the employee requests at any time, to be paid for overtime covered by an agreement under clause 19.4 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.
(g) If time off for overtime that has been worked is not taken within the period of 6 months mentioned in clause 19.4(e), 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.
(h) The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 19.4 as an employee record.
(i) 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.
(j) 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 19.4 will apply, including the requirement for separate written agreements under clause 19.4(b) for overtime that has been worked.
[Note varied by PR763251 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).
(k) If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, time off for overtime worked by the employee to which clause 19.4 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 19.4.
19.5 Rest period after overtime
(b) Where an employee, other than a casual employee, has not had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty between those days or shifts, the employee must, subject to clause 19.5, be released after completion of such overtime until the employee has 10 consecutive hours off duty without loss of pay for ordinary time occurring during the absence.
(c) If the employer directs an employee to resume or continue work without having had 10 consecutive hours off duty, the employee must be paid at 200% of the ordinary hourly rate until released from duty for 10 hours. The employee is then entitled to be absent until the employee has had 10 consecutive hours off duty without loss of pay for ordinary working time occurring during the absence.
(d) The provisions of clause 19.5 will apply in the case of shiftworkers 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 an employee other than a shiftworker or a shiftworker is required to replace the shiftworker; or
(iii) where a shift is worked by arrangement between the employees themselves.
19.6 Recall and stand-by
20. Shiftwork and penalty rates
[Varied by PR723853, PR747366]
(a) For the purpose of clause 20:
rostered shift means any shift of which the employee concerned has had at least 48 hours’ notice
day shift means any shift starting at or after 6.00 am and before 10.00 am
afternoon shift means any shift starting at or after 10.00 am and before 8.00 pm
night shift means any shift starting at or after 8.00 pm and before 6.00 am
non-successive afternoon or night shift means work on any afternoon or night shift that does not continue for at least 5 successive afternoons or nights
permanent night shift means a period of engagement on shiftwork where an employee works night shift only; remains on night shift for longer than 4 consecutive weeks; or works on night shift that does not rotate or alternate with another shift or with day work so as to give that employee at least one third of working time off the night shift in each shift cycle
(a) The penalty rates provided for in clause 20.2(b) are not cumulative.
(b) Afternoon and night shift penalty rates
(i) An employee whilst working afternoon or night shift will be paid 115% of their ordinary hourly rate of pay.
(ii) An employee who is required to work on non-successive afternoon or night shifts will be paid 150% of their ordinary hourly rate of pay for the first 8 hours.
(iii) An employee who works non-successive afternoon or night shifts will be paid 200% of their ordinary hourly rate of pay for all time worked in excess of 8 hours.
(iv) An employee who works permanent night shifts will be paid 130% of their ordinary hourly rate of pay for all time worked during ordinary working hours on permanent night shift. Clause 20.2(b)(iv) will not apply where the employee requests to work permanent night shift.
(c) The ordinary hours of work are to be worked continuously, except for meal breaks, at the discretion of the employer.
(d) Except at changeover of shifts an employee will not be required to work more than one shift in each 24 hours.
[20.3(f) varied by PR747366 ppc 14Nov22]
(f) Each day of paid leave taken and any public holiday occurring during any cycle of 4 weeks will be regarded as a shift or part-shift worked for accrual purposes.
(g) Except as provided for above, employees not working a complete 4 week cycle will be paid pro rata accrued entitlements for each shift worked, on the programmed shift off or, in the case of termination of employment, on termination.
(h) The employer and employees will agree in writing upon arrangements for rostered paid days or for accumulation of accrued days to be taken at or before the end of a particular contract.
20.4 Shift rosters
There will be a roster of shifts which will:
(a) provide for rotation unless all the employees concerned desire otherwise; and
(b) provide for not more than 8 shifts to be worked in any 9 consecutive days.
[20.5(a) substituted by PR723853 ppc 20Nov20]
(a) Work done by shiftworkers in excess of and outside the ordinary working hours of their shift (inclusive of time accrued for a rostered shift off under clause 20.3) or on a shift other than a rostered shift will be paid at the following rate:
(i) for full-time and part-time shiftworkers—200% of the ordinary hourly rate; or
(ii) for casual shiftworkers—200% of the casual ordinary hourly rate.
(b) This provision will not apply to arrangements made between the employees themselves, in cases due to rotation of shift or when the shiftworker is not relieved from duty by the following shift at the proper time.
[20.5(c) substituted by PR723853 ppc 20Nov20]
(c) Where a shiftworker is not relieved from duty at the proper time the shiftworker will be paid at the following rates for all time worked after finishing an ordinary shift:
(i) for a full-time or part-time shiftworker—150% of their ordinary hourly rate for the first 8 hours, and 200% of their ordinary hourly rate for time after 8 hours; or
(ii) for a casual shiftworker—150% of their casual ordinary hourly rate for the first 8 hours, and 200% of their casual ordinary hourly rate for time after 8 hours.
[NOTE inserted by PR723853 ppc 20Nov20]
NOTE: The casual ordinary hourly rate includes the casual loading prescribed by clause 11.3(b), as defined in clause 2—Definitions.
Shiftworkers working ordinary hours of work on a Saturday (inclusive of time worked for accrual purposes as prescribed in clause 20.3) between midnight on Friday and midnight on Saturday will be paid a minimum of 150% of their ordinary hourly rate.
20.7 Sundays and public holidays
(a) Shiftworkers working ordinary hours of work on a Sunday will be paid the Sunday overtime rate in accordance with clause 19—Overtime.
(b) Shiftworkers working ordinary hours of work on a public holiday will be paid in accordance with clause 26—Public holidays.
(d) Where a shift is regarded as a public holiday in accordance with clause 20.7(c), time worked on the shift commencing before midnight on the day preceding a Sunday or public holiday and extending into a Sunday or public holiday will be regarded as time worked on a Sunday or public holiday.
(e) Where a shift commences between 11.00 pm and midnight on a Sunday or public holiday, the time so worked before midnight will not entitle the employee to the Sunday or public holiday rate.
20.8 An employer may require an employee other than a shiftworker to change to shiftwork provided at least 24 hours’ notice is given of the change. Overtime rates will be paid if the shifts do not continue for at least 5 consecutive afternoons or nights.
Part 6—Leave and Public Holidays
[Varied by PR751068]
21.1 Annual leave is provided for in the NES.
For the purpose of the additional week of annual leave provided for in section 87(1)(b) of the Act, a shiftworker is a 7 day shiftworker who is regularly rostered to work on Sundays and public holidays.
(a) Before the start of an employee’s annual leave, the employer must pay the employee the amount the employee would have earned for working their ordinary hours had they not been on leave for the period.
(b) In addition, before the start of an employee’s annual leave, the employer must pay the employee the greater of:
(i) a loading of 17.5% of the employee’s ordinary hourly rate; or
(ii) if the employee was a shiftworker before commencing the leave:
· the 17.5% loading prescribed by clause 21.3(b)(i); and
· the shift penalty rate that would have been payable to the employee for that shift under clause 20.2.
NOTE: Where an employee is receiving over-award payments such that the employee’s base rate of pay is higher than the rate specified under this award, the employee is entitled to receive the higher rate while on a period of paid annual leave (see sections 16 and 90 of the Act).
21.4 Electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment of annual leave
Despite anything else in clause 21, an employee paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) may be paid in accordance with their usual pay cycle while on paid annual leave.
21.5 Excessive leave accruals: general provision
NOTE: Clauses 21.5 to 21.7 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 (or 10 weeks’ paid annual leave for a shiftworker, as defined by clause 21.2).
(c) Clause 21.6 sets out how an employer may direct an employee who has an excessive leave accrual to take paid annual leave.
(d) Clause 21.7 sets out how an employee who has an excessive leave accrual may require an employer to grant paid annual leave requested by the employee.
21.6 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 21.5(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 21.6(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 21.5, 21.6 or 21.7 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 21.6(a) that is in effect.
(d) An employee to whom a direction has been given under clause 21.6(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 21.6(d) may result in the direction ceasing to have effect. See clause 21.6(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.
21.7 Excessive leave accruals: request by employee for leave
(a) If an employee has genuinely tried to reach agreement with an employer under clause 21.5(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 21.7(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 21.6(a) that, when any other paid annual leave arrangements (whether made under clause 21.5, 21.6 or 21.7 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 clause21.7(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 21.5, 21.6 or 21.7 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 21.7(a) more than 4 weeks’ paid annual leave (or 5 weeks’ paid annual leave for a shiftworker, as defined by clause 21.2) in any period of 12 months.
(e) The employer must grant paid annual leave requested by a notice under clause 21.7(a).
21.8 Direction to take annual leave during shutdown
[21.8 renamed and substituted by PR751068 ppc 01May23]
(a) Clause 21.8 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, amongst others, of allowing annual leave to the employees concerned or a majority of them (temporary shutdown period); and
(ii) wishes to require affected employees to take paid annual leave during that period.
(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 21.8(b) and who will be affected by that period as soon as reasonably practicable after the employee is engaged.
(e) A direction by the employer under clause 21.8(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 21.8(d).
(g) In respect of any part of a temporary shutdown period which is not the subject of a direction under clause 21.8(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 21.9.
(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 21.9, to which an entitlement has not been accrued, is to be taken into account.
(j) Clauses 21.5 to 21.7 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 21.8.
(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.
(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 21.9 is set out at Schedule E—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule E—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance.
(c) The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 21.9 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 21.9, 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.
21.10 Cashing out of annual leave
(a) Paid annual leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with an agreement under clause 21.10.
(b) Each cashing out of a particular amount of paid annual leave must be the subject of a separate agreement under clause 21.10.
(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 21.10 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 21.10 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 21.10 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 21.10.
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 21.10.
NOTE 3: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 21.10 is set out at Schedule F—Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule F—Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave.
22. Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave
Personal/ carer’s leave and compassionate leave are provided for in the NES.
23. Parental leave and related entitlements
[23 varied by PR763251 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 29—Dispute resolution and/or under section 76B of the Act.
Community service leave is provided for in the NES.
25. Family and domestic violence leave
[25—Unpaid family and domestic violence leave renamed and substituted by PR750429 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.
[Varied by PR747366]
26.1 Public holidays are provided for in the NES.
26.2 Payment for working public holidays
Where a full-time or part-time employee works on a public holiday the employee will be paid 250% of the ordinary hourly rate for all time worked on the public holiday. A casual employee who works on a public holiday will be paid 250% of the casual ordinary hourly rate.
[New 26.4 inserted by PR747366 ppc 14Nov22]
26.4 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 26.3.
[26.5 deleted by PR747366 ppc 14Nov22]
[26.4 renumbered as 26.5 by PR747366 ppc 14Nov22]
26.5 Substitution of public holidays by agreement
(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.
Part 7—Workplace Delegates, Consultation and Dispute Resolution
[Part 7—Consultation and Dispute Resolution renamed by PR774766 from 01Jul24]
26A. Workplace delegates’ rights
[26A inserted by PR774766 from 01Jul24]
26A.1 Clause 26A 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 26A.
26A.2 In clause 26A:
(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.
26A.3 Before exercising entitlements under clause 26A, 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.
26A.4 An employee who ceases to be a workplace delegate must give written notice to the employer within 14 days.
26A.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.
26A.6 Entitlement to reasonable communication
(a) A workplace delegate may communicate with eligible employees for the purpose of representing their industrial interests under clause 26A.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.
26A.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 26A.7(a) if:
(i) the workplace does not have the facility;
(ii) 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
(iii) the employer does not have access to the facility at the enterprise and is unable to obtain access after taking reasonable steps.
26A.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.
26A.9 Exercise of entitlements under clause 26A
(a) A workplace delegate’s entitlements under clause 26A 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 26A 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 26A 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 26A.
27. Consultation about major workplace change
27.1 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.
27.2 For the purposes of the discussion under clause 27.1(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.
27.3 Clause 27.2 does not require an employer to disclose any confidential information if its disclosure would be contrary to the employer’s interests.
27.4 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 27.1(b).
27.5 In clause 27 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.
27.6 Where this award makes provision for alteration of any of the matters defined at clause 27.5, such alteration is taken not to have significant effect.
28. Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work
28.1 Clause 28 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.
28.3 For the purpose of the consultation, the employer must:
(a) provide to the employees and representatives mentioned in clause 28.2 information about the proposed change (for example, information about the nature of the change and when it is to begin); and
28.4 The employer must consider any views given under clause 28.3(b).
28.5 Clause 28 is to be read in conjunction with any other provisions of this award concerning the scheduling of work or the giving of notice.
[Varied by PR763251, PR777284, PR778022]
29.1 Clause 29 sets out the procedures to be followed if a dispute arises about a matter under this award or in relation to the NES.
29.3 If the dispute is not resolved through discussion as mentioned in clause 29.2, 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.
29.4 If the dispute is unable to be resolved at the workplace and all appropriate steps have been taken under clauses 29.2 and 29.3, a party to the dispute may refer it to the Fair Work Commission.
29.5 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.
29.6 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.
29.7 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 29.
29.8 While procedures are being followed under clause 29 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.
29.9 Clause 29.8 is subject to any applicable work health and safety legislation.
[Note 1 and Note 2 inserted by PR763251; deleted by PR778022 from 26Aug24]
[Note inserted by PR778022 from 26Aug24; varied by PR777284 from 27Aug24]
NOTE: In addition to clause 29, 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
NOTE: The NES sets out requirements for notice of termination by an employer. See sections 117 and 123 of the Act.
30.1 Notice of termination by an employee
(a) Clause 30.1 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.
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 30.1(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 30.1(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 30.1(b), then no deduction can be made under clause 30.1(d).
(f) Any deduction made under clause 30.1(d) must not be unreasonable in the circumstances.
(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 30.2 is to be taken at times that are convenient to the employee after consultation with the employer.
NOTE: Redundancy pay is provided for in the NES. See sections 119 to 123 of the Act.
31.1 Transfer to lower paid duties on redundancy
(a) Clause 31.1 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 31.1(c).
(c) If the employer acts as mentioned in clause 31.1(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.
31.2 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 31 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.
31.3 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 31.3(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 31.3(b).
(d) An employee who fails to produce proof when required under clause 31.3(b) is not entitled to be paid for the time off.
(e) This entitlement applies instead of clause 30.2.
Schedule A—Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay
[Varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938]
A.1 Ordinary hourly rate
The ordinary hourly rate includes the industry allowance (clause 17.2(b)) and inclement weather allowance (clause 17.2(c)) which are payable for all purposes.
A.2 Full-time and part-time employees
A.2.1 Full-time and part-time employees other than shiftworkers—ordinary and penalty rates
[A.2.1 varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
|
Day |
Public holiday |
|
|
% of ordinary hourly rate1 |
||
|
100% |
250% |
|
|
$ |
$ |
|
Skill Level 1 |
25.55 |
63.88 |
|
Skill Level 2 |
26.85 |
67.13 |
|
Skill Level 3 |
27.84 |
69.60 |
|
Skill Level 4 |
29.26 |
73.15 |
|
Skill Level 5 |
29.50 |
73.75 |
|
1 Ordinary hourly rate includes the industry allowance and inclement weather allowance payable to all employees for all purposes.
A.2.2 Full-time and part-time employees other than shiftworkers—overtime rates
[A.2.2 varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
|
Monday to Saturday – first 2 hours |
Monday to Saturday – after 2 hours |
Sunday – all day |
% of ordinary hourly rate1 |
|||
|
150% |
200% |
200% |
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
Skill Level 1 |
38.33 |
51.10 |
51.10 |
Skill Level 2 |
40.28 |
53.70 |
53.70 |
Skill Level 3 |
41.76 |
55.68 |
55.68 |
Skill Level 4 |
43.89 |
58.52 |
58.52 |
Skill Level 5 |
44.25 |
59.00 |
59.00 |
1 Ordinary hourly rate includes the industry allowance and inclement weather allowance payable to all employees for all purposes.
A.2.3 Full-time and part-time shiftworkers—ordinary and penalty rates
[A.2.3 varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
Day |
Afternoon or night |
Non-successive afternoon or night1 |
Permanent night2 |
Saturday |
Sunday |
Public holiday |
|||
8 hours or less |
More than 8 hours |
||||||||
|
|
% of ordinary hourly rate3 |
|
||||||
|
100% |
115% |
150% |
200% |
130% |
150% |
200% |
250% |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Skill Level 1 |
25.55 |
29.38 |
38.33 |
51.10 |
33.22 |
38.33 |
51.10 |
63.88 |
|
Skill Level 2 |
26.85 |
30.88 |
40.28 |
53.70 |
34.91 |
40.28 |
53.70 |
67.13 |
|
Skill Level 3 |
27.84 |
32.02 |
41.76 |
55.68 |
36.19 |
41.76 |
55.68 |
69.60 |
|
Skill Level 4 |
29.26 |
33.65 |
43.89 |
58.52 |
38.04 |
43.89 |
58.52 |
73.15 |
|
Skill Level 5 |
29.50 |
33.93 |
44.25 |
59.00 |
38.35 |
44.25 |
59.00 |
73.75 |
|
1 Non-successive afternoon or night means work on any afternoon or night shift that does not continue for at least 5 successive afternoons or nights (see clause 20.1).
2 Permanent night shift means a period of engagement on shiftwork where an employee works night shift only; remains on night shift for longer than 4 consecutive weeks; or works on night shift that does not rotate or alternate with another shift or with day work so as to give that employee at least one third of working time off the night shift in each shift cycle (see clause 20.1).
3 Ordinary hourly rate includes the industry allowance and inclement weather allowance payable to all employees for all purposes.
A.2.4 Full-time and part-time shiftworkers—overtime
[A.2.4 varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
|
Overtime |
Unrelieved overtime |
|
First 8 hours |
After 8 hours |
||
% of ordinary rate1 |
|||
|
200% |
150% |
200% |
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
Skill Level 1 |
51.10 |
38.33 |
51.10 |
Skill Level 2 |
53.70 |
40.28 |
53.70 |
Skill Level 3 |
55.68 |
41.76 |
55.68 |
Skill Level 4 |
58.52 |
43.89 |
58.52 |
Skill Level 5 |
59.00 |
44.25 |
59.00 |
1 Ordinary hourly rate includes the industry allowance and inclement weather allowance payable to all employees for all purposes.
A.3 Casual employees
A.3.1 Casual ordinary hourly rate includes the casual loading, industry allowance (clause 17.2(b)) and inclement weather allowance (clause 17.2(c)) which are payable for all purposes.
A.3.2 Casual employees other than shiftworkers—ordinary and penalty rates
[A.3.2 varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
|
Day |
Public holiday |
|
% of casual ordinary hourly rate1 |
|
|
100% |
250% |
|
$ |
$ |
Skill Level 1 |
31.94 |
79.85 |
Skill Level 2 |
33.56 |
83.90 |
Skill Level 3 |
34.80 |
87.00 |
Skill Level 4 |
36.58 |
91.45 |
Skill Level 5 |
36.88 |
92.20 |
1 Casual ordinary hourly rate includes the casual loading, the industry allowance and the inclement weather allowance payable to all employees for all purposes.
A.3.3 Casual shiftworkers—ordinary and penalty rates
[A.3.3 varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
Day |
Afternoon or night |
Non-successive afternoon or night1 |
Permanent night2 |
Saturday |
Sunday |
Public holiday |
||
8 hours or less |
More than 8 hours |
|||||||
|
|
% of casual ordinary hourly rate3 |
||||||
|
100% |
115% |
150% |
200% |
130% |
150% |
200% |
250% |
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Skill Level 1 |
31.94 |
36.73 |
47.91 |
63.88 |
41.52 |
47.91 |
63.88 |
79.85 |
Skill Level 2 |
33.56 |
38.59 |
50.34 |
67.12 |
43.63 |
50.34 |
67.12 |
83.90 |
Skill Level 3 |
34.80 |
40.02 |
52.20 |
69.60 |
45.24 |
52.20 |
69.60 |
87.00 |
Skill Level 4 |
36.58 |
42.07 |
54.87 |
73.16 |
47.55 |
54.87 |
73.16 |
91.45 |
Skill Level 5 |
36.88 |
42.41 |
55.32 |
73.76 |
47.94 |
55.32 |
73.76 |
92.20 |
1 Non-successive afternoon or night means work on any afternoon or night shift that does not continue for at least 5 successive afternoons or nights (see clause 20.1).
2 Permanent night shift means a period of engagement on shiftwork where an employee works night shift only; remains on night shift for longer than 4 consecutive weeks; or works on night shift that does not rotate or alternate with another shift or with day work so as to give that employee at least one third of working time off the night shift in each shift cycle (see clause 20.1).
3 Casual ordinary hourly rate includes the casual loading, the industry allowance and the inclement weather allowance payable to all employees for all purposes.
Schedule B—Summary of Monetary Allowances
[Varied by PR718872, PR719025, PR729312, PR729497, PR740734, PR740902, PR750810, PR762163, PR762329, PR773938, PR774109]
See clause 17—Allowances for full details of allowances payable under this award.
B.1 Wage-related allowances:
[B.1.1 varied by PR718872, PR729312, PR740734, PR762163, PR773938 ppc 01Jul24]
B.1.1 The following wage-related allowances are based on the weekly standard rate defined in clause 2—Definitions as the minimum weekly rate for a Skill level 3 in clause 15.1 = $978.50. These rates are to be paid in accordance with the clause 17—Allowances
Allowance |
Clause |
% of standard rate |
$ |
Payable |
Industry allowance1 |
17.2(b) |
4.0 |
39.14 |
per week |
Inclement weather allowance2 |
17.2(c)(i) |
4.1 |
40.12 |
per week |
First aid allowance |
17.2(d) |
0.4 |
3.91 |
per day |
Leading hand allowance |
17.2(e) |
3.5 |
34.25 |
per week |
1, 2 These allowances apply for all purposes of this award.
B.1.2 Automatic adjustment of wage-related allowances
[B.1.2 renamed and substituted by PR750810 ppc 15Mar23]
The amount of each wage-related allowance is the percentage of the standard rate specified for the allowance and will automatically adjust to reflect the specified percentage when the standard rate is varied.
B.2 Expense-related allowances:
[B.2.1 varied by PR719025, PR729497, PR740902, PR762329, PR774109 ppc 01Jul24]
B.2.1 The following expense-related allowances are to be paid in accordance with the clause 17—Allowances and will be adjusted by reference to the Consumer Price Index (CPI):
Allowance |
Clause |
$ |
Payable |
Meal allowance—overtime of more than 1.5 hours after usual ceasing time—without notice |
17.3(a)(i) |
19.21 |
per occasion |
Meal allowance—overtime—5.5 hours or more after usual ceasing time and each further 4 hours |
17.3(a)(ii) |
19.21 |
per occasion |
Travelling expenses—meal allowance while travelling to distant work |
17.3(d)(ii) |
19.21 |
per meal |
Travelling expenses—accommodation when required to spend a night en route to distant work |
17.3(d)(ii) |
97.84 |
per night |
Distant work—accommodation and incidentals allowance: |
|
|
|
Board and lodging for 7 days |
17.3(e)(i) |
702.12 |
per week |
All living expenses for broken parts of a week—an amount of up to |
17.3(e)(i) |
702.12 |
per week |
Incidentals allowance |
17.3(e)(ii) |
7.49 |
per night |
B.2.2 Adjustment of expense-related allowances
(a) At the time of any adjustment to the standard rate, each expense-related allowance will be increased by the relevant adjustment factor. The relevant adjustment factor for this purpose is the percentage movement in the applicable index figure most recently published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics since the allowance was last adjusted.
(b) The applicable index figure is the index figure published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Eight Capitals Consumer Price Index (Cat No. 6401.0), as follows:
Allowance |
Applicable Consumer Price Index figure |
Meal allowance |
Take away and fast foods sub-group |
Country and distant work |
Domestic holiday travel and accommodation sub-group |
Schedule C—Supported Wage System
[Varied by PR719661, PR729672, PR742256, PR762969, PR774051]
C.1 This schedule defines the conditions which will apply to employees who because of the effects of a disability are eligible for a supported wage under the terms of this award.
C.2 In this schedule:
approved assessor means a person accredited by the management unit established by the Commonwealth under the supported wage system to perform assessments of an individual’s productive capacity within the supported wage system.
assessment instrument means the tool provided for under the supported wage system that records the assessment of the productive capacity of the person to be employed under the supported wage system.
disability support pension means the Commonwealth pension scheme to provide income security for persons with a disability as provided under the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth), as amended from time to time, or any successor to that scheme.
relevant minimum wage means the minimum wage prescribed in this award for the class of work for which an employee is engaged.
supported wage system (SWS) means the Commonwealth Government system to promote employment for people who cannot work at full award wages because of a disability, as documented in the Supported Wage System Handbook. The Handbook is available from the following website: www.jobaccess.gov.au.
SWS wage assessment agreement means the document in the form required by the Department of Social Services that records the employee’s productive capacity and agreed wage rate.
C.3 Eligibility criteria
C.3.1 Employees covered by this schedule will be those who are unable to perform the range of duties to the competence level required within the class of work for which the employee is engaged under this award, because of the effects of a disability on their productive capacity and who meet the impairment criteria for receipt of a disability support pension.
C.3.2 This schedule does not apply to any existing employee who has a claim against the employer which is subject to the provisions of workers compensation legislation or any provision of this award relating to the rehabilitation of employees who are injured in the course of their employment.
C.4 Supported wage rates
C.4.1 Employees to whom this schedule applies will be paid the applicable percentage of the relevant minimum wage according to the following schedule:
Assessed capacity (clause
C.5) |
Relevant minimum wage |
10 |
10 |
20 |
20 |
30 |
30 |
40 |
40 |
50 |
50 |
60 |
60 |
70 |
70 |
80 |
80 |
90 |
90 |
[C.4.2 varied by PR719661, PR729672, PR742256, PR762969, PR774051 ppc 01Jul24]
C.4.2 Provided that the minimum amount payable must be not less than $106 per week.
C.4.3 Where an employee’s assessed capacity is 10%, they must receive a high degree of assistance and support.
C.5.1 For the purpose of establishing the percentage of the relevant minimum wage, the productive capacity of the employee will be assessed in accordance with the SWS by an approved assessor, having consulted the employer and employee and, if the employee so desires, a union which the employee is eligible to join.
C.5.2 All assessments made under this schedule must be documented in an SWS wage assessment agreement, and retained by the employer as a time and wages record in accordance with the Act.
C.6 Lodgement of SWS wage assessment agreement
C.6.1 All SWS wage assessment agreements under the conditions of this schedule, including the appropriate percentage of the relevant minimum wage to be paid to the employee, must be lodged by the employer with the Fair Work Commission.
C.6.2 All SWS wage assessment agreements must be agreed and signed by the employee and employer parties to the assessment. Where a union which has an interest in the award is not a party to the assessment, the assessment will be referred by the Fair Work Commission to the union by certified mail and the agreement will take effect unless an objection is notified to the Fair Work Commission within 10 working days.
C.7 Review of assessment
The assessment of the applicable percentage should be subject to annual or more frequent review on the basis of a reasonable request for such a review. The process of review must be in accordance with the procedures for assessing capacity under the SWS.
C.8 Other terms and conditions of employment
Where an assessment has been made, the applicable percentage will apply to the relevant minimum wage only. Employees covered by the provisions of this schedule will be entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as other workers covered by this award on a pro rata basis.
C.9 Workplace adjustment
An employer wishing to employ a person under the provisions of this schedule must take reasonable steps to make changes in the workplace to enhance the employee’s capacity to do the job. Changes may involve re-design of job duties, working time arrangements and work organisation in consultation with other workers in the area.
C.10 Trial period
C.10.1 In order for an adequate assessment of the employee’s capacity to be made, an employer may employ a person under the provisions of this schedule for a trial period not exceeding 12 weeks, except that in some cases additional work adjustment time (not exceeding 4 weeks) may be needed.
C.10.2 During that trial period the assessment of capacity will be undertaken and the percentage of the relevant minimum wage for a continuing employment relationship will be determined.
[C.10.3 varied by PR719661, PR729672, PR742256, PR762969, PR774051 ppc 01Jul24]
C.10.3 The minimum amount payable to the employee during the trial period must be no less than $106 per week.
C.10.4 Work trials should include induction or training as appropriate to the job being trialled.
C.10.5 Where the employer and employee wish to establish a continuing employment relationship following the completion of the trial period, a further contract of employment will be entered into based on the outcome of assessment under clause C.5.
Schedule D—Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime
Link to PDF copy of Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime.
Name of employee: _____________________________________________
Name of employer: _____________________________________________
The employer and employee agree that the employee may take time off instead of being paid for the following amount of overtime that has been worked by the employee:
Date and time overtime started: ___/___/20___ ____ am/pm
Date and time overtime ended: ___/___/20___ ____ am/pm
Amount of overtime worked: _______ hours and ______ minutes
The employer and employee further agree that, if requested by the employee at any time, the employer must pay the employee for overtime covered by this agreement but not taken as time off. Payment must be made at the overtime rate applying to the overtime when worked and must be made in the next pay period following the request.
Signature of employee: ________________________________________
Date signed: ___/___/20___
Name of employer representative: ________________________________________
Signature of employer representative: ________________________________________
Date signed: ___/___/20___
Schedule E—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance
Link to PDF copy of Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance.
Name of employee: _____________________________________________
Name of employer: _____________________________________________
The employer and employee agree that the employee will take a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave:
The amount of leave to be taken in advance is: ____ hours/days
The leave in advance will commence on: ___/___/20___
Signature of employee: ________________________________________
Date signed: ___/___/20___
Name of employer representative: ________________________________________
Signature of employer representative: ________________________________________
Date signed: ___/___/20___
[If the employee is under 18 years of age - include:] I agree that: if, on termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken under this agreement, then 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. Name of parent/guardian: ________________________________________ Signature of parent/guardian: ________________________________________ Date signed: ___/___/20___ |
Schedule F—Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave
Link to PDF copy of Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave.
Name of employee: _____________________________________________
Name of employer: _____________________________________________
The employer and employee agree to the employee cashing out a particular amount of the employee’s accrued paid annual leave:
The amount of leave to be cashed out is: ____ hours/days
The payment to be made to the employee for the leave is: $_______ subject to deduction of income tax/after deduction of income tax (strike out where not applicable)
The payment will be made to the employee on: ___/___/20___
Signature of employee: ________________________________________
Date signed: ___/___/20___
Name of employer representative: ________________________________________
Signature of employer representative: ________________________________________
Date signed: ___/___/20___
Include if the employee is under 18 years of age:
Name of parent/guardian: ________________________________________ Signature of parent/guardian: ________________________________________ Date signed: ___/___/20___ |
[Schedule G—Part-day Public Holidays deleted by PR747366 ppc 14Nov22]
[Schedule X—Additional Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic varied by PR720705, PR723048, PR728080, PR736911; deleted by PR746868 ppc 17Oct22]
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