Modern Award Changes - New rules and minimum pay for introductory award rates

Minimum pay rates for introductory classification or entry-level employees under some Modern Awards may go up on the first full pay period on or after:

• 1 January 2025

• 1 April 2025 for employees under the Horticulture Award and Pastoral Award.

This is because such employees who have been employed at their award introductory level for more than the maximum period on 1 January or 1 April 2025 may move to the next classification.

FWC considered that this was necessary because:

• some awards currently contain pay rates that are less than the National Minimum Wage

• the lowest classification rate in any modern award applicable to ongoing employment should be at least the C13 rate (currently $915.90 per week)

• any classification rate below the C13 rate must be an entry-level rate operating for a limited period and provide a clear transition to a higher rate

• the transition period on a rate below the C13 rate should not exceed 6 months

Impact on Enterprise Agreements

This may also affect pay rates under Enterprise Agreements where the minimum base rates under the Enterprise Agreement are less than base rates under the Modern Award that would apply, if not for the Enterprise Agreement.

Which Awards Are Impacted?

Air Pilots Award 2020

Airline Operations—Ground Staff Award 2020

Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020

Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020

Aquaculture Industry Award 2020

Architects Award 2020

Australia Post Enterprise Award 2015

Australian Capital Territory Public Sector Enterprise Award 2016

Australian Government Industry Award 2016

Business Equipment Award 2020

Cement, Lime and Quarrying Award 2020

Children’s Services Award 2010

Christmas Island Administration Enterprise Award 2016

Concrete Products Award 2020

Cotton Ginning Award 2020

Dry Cleaning and Laundry Industry Award 2020

Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020

Fitness Industry Award 2020

Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing Award 2020

Funeral Industry Award 2020

Graphic Arts, Printing and Publishing Award 2020

*Horticulture Award 2020

Joinery and Building Trades Award 2020

Live Performance Award 2020

Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020

Marine Tourism and Charter Vessels Award 2020

Meat Industry Award 2020

Metropolitan Newspapers (South Australia and Tasmania) Printing Award 2015

Northern Territory Public Sector Enterprise Award 2016

Note Printing Australia Award 2016

Nurses and Midwives (Victoria) State Reference Public Sector Award 2015

*Pastoral Award 2020

Pest Control Industry Award 2020

Port Authorities Award 2020

Printing Industry – Herald & Weekly Times – Production Award 2015

Rail Industry Award 2020

Seafood Processing Award 2020

Seagoing Industry Award 2020

Sugar Industry Award 2020

Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Associated Industries Award 2020

Timber Industry Award 2020

Travelling Shows Award 2020

Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020

Victorian Local Government (Early Childhood Education Employees) Award 2016

Victorian State Government Agencies Award 2015

Wine Industry Award 2020

Wool Storage, Sampling and Testing Award 2020

Action Items:

• Check your pay rates for introductory levels now

• Update payroll systems

• Train your manager/ supervisors in the changes

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