Schedule C—Summary of Monetary Allowances

[Varied by PR718877, PR719030, PR729317, PR729502, PR740742, PR740907, PR750815, PR762168, PR762334, PR773945, PR774114, PR786597, PR786765, PR799339, PR799495]

See clause 20—Allowances for full details of allowances payable under this award.

C.1 Wage-related allowances (weekly standard rate)

[C.1 varied by PR718877, PR729317, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339 ppc 01Jul26]

The following wage-related allowances are based on the weekly standard rate defined in clause 2—Definitions as the minimum weekly rate for MI 7 in clause 16.1= $1119.10. These rates are to be paid in accordance with clause 20—Allowances.

Allowance | Clause | % of standard rate | $ | Payable

Leading hand allowance, supervising—3 to 9 employees | 20.2(c)(i) | 1.6 | 17.91 | per week

Leading hand allowance, supervising—10 or more employees | 20.2(c)(ii) | 2.3 | 25.74 | per week

C.2 Wage-related allowances (hourly standard rate)

[C.2.1 varied by PR718877, PR729317, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339 ppc 01Jul26]

C.2.1 The following wage-related allowances in this award are based on the hourly standard rate defined in clause 2—Definitions as the minimum hourly rate for MI 7 in clause 16.1= $29.45. These rates are to be paid in accordance with the clause 20—Allowances.

Allowance | Clause | % of standard rate | $ | Payable

Cold temperature allowance—Below zero but not below -16°C | 20.2(a) | 2.6 | 0.77 | per hour or part thereof unless stated otherwise

Cold temperature allowance—Below -16°C but not below -18°C | 20.2(a) | 4.5 | 1.33 | per hour or part thereof unless stated otherwise

Cold temperature allowance—Below -18°C but not below -21°C | 20.2(a) | 6.4 | 1.88 | per hour or part thereof unless stated otherwise

Cold temperature allowance—Below -21°C | 20.2(a) | 8.7 | 2.56 | per hour or part thereof unless stated otherwise

First aid allowance | 20.2(b) | 14.2 | 4.18 | per day

C.2.2 Automatic adjustment of wage-related allowances

[C.2.2 renamed and substituted by PR750815 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.

C.3 Expense-related allowances:

[C.3.1 varied by PR719030, PR729502, PR740907, PR762334, PR774114, PR786765, PR799495 ppc 01Jul26]

C.3.1 The following expense-related allowances are to be paid in accordance with the clause 20—Allowances and will be adjusted by reference to the Consumer Price Index (CPI):

Allowance | Clause | $ | Payable

Clothing—meat processing establishments, weekly allowance | 20.3(a)(i) | 3.70 | per week

Clothing—meat processing establishments, daily allowance | 20.3(a)(i) | 0.74 | per day

Meal allowance—overtime of one and a half hours or more | 20.3(b) | 19.14 | per occasion

C.3.2 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

Clothing | Clothing and footwear group

2. Definitions

[Varied by PR733854, PR774771, PR777289, PR792260, PR795682]

In this award, unless the contrary intention appears:

Act means the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

adult apprentice means an apprentice who is 21 years of age or over at the commencement of their apprenticeship.

cashier means an employee engaged to collect and/or process money or other payment tendered for retail sales of meat and/or meat products, and who is not a salesperson.

[Definition of casual employee inserted by PR733854 from 27Sep21; varied by PR777289 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.

continuous service has the meaning in sections 22(1), (2) and (3) of the Act.

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 PR774771; substituted retrospectively by PR795682 ppc 01Jul24]

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

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

[Definition of enterprise inserted by PR774771 from 01Jul24]

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

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

fresh meat means meat that has not been cooked, pickled, cured or otherwise processed from the natural state, other than by chilling or freezing.

meat means cattle, calves, buffalo, horses, mules, donkeys, sheep, lambs, goats, pigs, camels, deer, kangaroos, emus, ostriches or marine reptiles, and any flesh or other organic products derived from any of them (excluding milk).

meat industry has the meaning given in clause 4.2.

meat manufacturing establishment has the meaning given in clause 4.2.

meat processing establishment has the meaning given in clause 4.2.

meat retail establishment has the meaning given in clause 4.2.

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

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

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.

[Definition of regular casual employee inserted by PR733854 from 27Sep21]

regular casual employee has the meaning given by section 12 of the Act.

related company means a related company within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

relevant apprenticeship legislation means any awards and/or regulations made by any state apprenticeship authority.

rostered day off (RDO) means any continuous 24 hour period between the completion of the last ordinary shift and the commencement of the next ordinary shift on which an employee is rostered for duty.

[Definition of salesperson deleted by PR792260 ppc 14Oct25]

[Definition of small business employer inserted by PR774771 from 01Jul24]

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

standard rate means the minimum weekly rate for a MI 7 in clause 16.1. Where an allowance is provided for on an hourly basis, a reference to standard rate means 1/38th of the weekly rate referred to in this definition.

[Definition of workplace delegate inserted by PR774771 from 01Jul24]

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

16. Minimum rates

[Varied by PR720159, PR718877, PR729317, PR733854, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339]

16.1 Adult rates

[16.1 varied by PR718877, PR729317, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339 ppc 01Jul26]

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

Employee classification | Minimum weekly rate(full-time employee) | Minimum hourly rate

| $ | $

MI 1 | 978.10 | 25.74

MI 2 | 1004.90 | 26.44

MI 3 | 1010.90 | 26.60

MI 4 | 1034.60 | 27.23

MI 5 | 1052.90 | 27.71

MI 6 | 1074.50 | 28.28

MI 7 | 1119.10 | 29.45

MI 8 | 1160.20 | 30.53

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

16.2 Junior rates

(a) Junior employees will be paid the percentage of the applicable adult weekly rate (or in the case of part-time or casual employees, the hourly rate) for their classification as follows:

Age | % of adult rate

Under 17 years | 50

17 years | 60

18 years | 75

19 years | 85

16.3 Apprentice rates

(a) Minimum rates for apprentices

(i) The minimum award rates for apprentices completing a 4 stage or year apprenticeship and who commenced before 1 January 2014 are the following percentages of the minimum weekly rate of MI 7:

Stage or year of apprenticeship | % of MI 7

1 | 50

2 | 60

3 | 85

4 | 95

(ii) The minimum award rates for apprentices completing a 4 stage or year apprenticeship and who commenced on or after 1 January 2014 are the following percentages of the minimum weekly rate of MI 7:

Stage or year of apprenticeship | % of MI 7 for apprentices who have not completed year 12 | % of MI 7 for apprentices who have completed year 12

1 | 50 | 55

2 | 60 | 65

3 | 85 | 85

4 | 95 | 95

16.4 Adult apprentice rates

(a) The minimum award rates for adult apprentices who commenced on or after 1 January 2014 and are in the first stage or year of their apprenticeship must be 80% of the minimum rate for MI 7, or the rate prescribed by clause 16.3(a) for the relevant year of the apprenticeship, whichever is greater.

(b) The minimum award rates for adult apprentices who commenced on or after 1 January 2014 and are in the second and subsequent stages or years of their apprenticeship must be the rate for the lowest adult classification in clause 16.1, or the rate prescribed by clause 16.3(a) for the relevant year of the apprenticeship, whichever is greater.

[16.4(c) varied by PR733854 from 27Sep21]

(c) A person employed by an employer under this award immediately prior to entering into a training agreement as an adult apprentice with that employer must not suffer a reduction in their minimum wage by virtue of entering into the training agreement, provided that the person has been an employee in that enterprise for at least 6 months as a full-time employee or 12 months as a part-time or regular casual employee immediately prior to commencing the apprenticeship. For the purpose only of fixing a minimum wage, the adult apprentice must continue to receive the minimum wage that applies to the classification specified in clause 16.1 in which the adult apprentice was engaged immediately prior to entering into the training agreement.

16.5 Apprentice conditions of employment

(a) The terms of this award apply to apprentices in the meat industry except where otherwise stated. Apprentices may be engaged in trades or occupations that are defined and provided for in Schedule A—Classification Definitions where such trades or occupations are declared or recognised by an apprenticeship authority. There is no such declaration or recognition for a trade qualified Slaughterer as defined.

(b) For the purposes of clause 16.5 herein, apprenticeship authority means a State or Territory training authority with the responsibility for the apprenticeship.

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

(d) An apprentice may be engaged under a training agreement approved by the relevant apprenticeship authority, provided the qualification outcome specified in the training agreement is consistent with that established for the vocation in the training package.

(e) Apprenticeships under this award are competency based. The actual time taken to complete an apprenticeship will therefore vary depending upon factors such as the intensity of training and the variety of work experience and any additional requirements set out in this award.

(f) The nominal period of the apprenticeship is up to 4 years, however this period may be varied as follows:

(i) to make up for lost time as set out in clause 16.5(q); and/or

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

(iii) it may be extended by up to 6 months in Stage 3 and 12 months in Stage 4 in the apprenticeship where required to complete the competencies.

(g) Notwithstanding the nominal period, the apprenticeship may be completed in a shorter period when:

(i) the qualification specified in the training agreement is successfully completed; and

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

(iii) the requirements of the relevant state/territory apprenticeship authority with respect to demonstration of competency and any minimum necessary work experience requirements are met; and

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

(h) An apprenticeship may be cancelled or suspended only in accordance with the requirements of the training agreement and the requirements of State legislation and the apprenticeship authority.

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

(j) Time spent by an apprentice in attending any training and/or assessment specified in, or associated with, the training contract is to be regarded as time worked for the employer for the purposes of calculating the apprentice’s wages and determining the apprentice’s employment conditions. Clause 16.5 operates subject to the provisions of Schedule D—School-based Apprenticeships.

(k) No apprentice will, except in an emergency, work or be required to work overtime or shiftwork at times which would prevent their attendance at training consistent with their training contract.

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

(m) The minimum rates applying to apprentices under this award are dealt with in clauses 16.3 and 16.4 and no apprentice is to work under a system of payment by results.

(n) An apprentice is entitled to be released from work without loss of continuity of employment and to payment of the appropriate wages for any training and assessment specified in, or associated with, the training contract.

(o) The nominal period of the apprenticeship is extended by an additional day for each day of absence during each year of the apprenticeship, except in respect of absences due to annual leave or long service leave.

(p) Periods of paid personal/carer leave which total ten or less days in any apprenticeship year do not extend the nominal period of the apprenticeship.

(q) Except where the apprentice meets the competency requirements to progress to the next stage as set out in clause 16.9 the following year of their apprenticeship does not commence until the additional days have been worked. However, any time that has been worked by the apprentice in excess of their ordinary hours must be credited to the apprentice when calculating the amount of additional time that needs to be worked in the relevant year.

16.6 Payment of Travel Costs, Fees and Text Books

(a) Where an apprentice is required to attend block release training for training identified in or associated with their training contract, and such training requires an overnight stay, the employer must pay for the excess reasonable travel costs incurred by the apprentice in the course of travelling to and from such training. Provided that clause 16.6 will not apply where the apprentice could attend an alternative Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and the use of the more distant RTO is not agreed between the employer and the apprentice.

(b) For the purposes of clause 16.6(a) excess reasonable travel costs include the total costs of reasonable transportation (including transportation of tools where required), accommodation costs incurred while travelling (where necessary) and reasonable expenses incurred while travelling, including meals, which exceed those incurred in travelling to and from work. For the purposes of clause 16.6, excess travel costs do not include payment for travelling time or expenses incurred while not travelling to and from block release training.

(c) The amount payable by an employer under clause 16.6(a) may be reduced by an amount the apprentice is eligible to receive for travel costs to attend block release training under a Government apprentice assistance scheme. This will only apply if an apprentice has either received such assistance or their employer has advised them in writing of the availability of such assistance.

(d) All training fees charged by an RTO for prescribed courses and the cost of all prescribed textbooks (excluding those textbooks which are available in the employer’s technical library) for the apprenticeship, which are paid by an apprentice, shall be reimbursed by the employer within 6 months of the commencement of the apprenticeship or the relevant stage of the apprenticeship, or within 3 months of the commencement of the training provided by the RTO, whichever is the later, unless there is unsatisfactory progress.

(e) An employer may meet its obligations under clause 16.6(d) by paying any fees and/or cost of textbooks directly to the RTO.

16.7 Competency based progression

(a) For the purpose of competency based wage progression in clauses 16.3 and 16.4 an apprentice will be paid at the relevant wage rate for the next stage of their apprenticeship if:

(i) competency has been achieved in the relevant proportion of the total units of competency specified in clause 16.9 for that stage of the apprenticeship. The units of competency which are included in the relevant proportion must be consistent with any requirements in the training plan; and

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

(iii) either:

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

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

(b) If the employer disagrees with the assessment of the RTO referred to in the second dot point in clause 16.7(a)(iii) above, and the dispute cannot be resolved by agreement between the RTO, the employer and the apprentice, the matter may be referred to the relevant State/Territory apprenticeship authority for determination. If the matter is not capable of being dealt with by such authority it may be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution clause in this award. For the avoidance of doubt, disputes concerning other apprenticeship progression provisions of this award may be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution clause.

(c) For the purposes of clause 16.7, the training package containing the qualification specified in the contract of training for the apprenticeship sets out the assessment requirements for the attainment of the units of competency that make up the qualification. The definition of “competency” utilised for the purpose of the training packages and for the purpose of clause 16.7 is the consistent application of knowledge and skill to the standard of performance required in the workplace. It embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments.

(d) The apprentice will be paid the wage rate referred to in clause 16.7(a) from the first full pay period to commence on or after the date on which an agreement or determination is reached in accordance with clause 16.7(a)(iii) or on a date as determined under the dispute resolution process in clause 16.7(b).

16.8 Minimum wages

The minimum wages for an apprentice are as set out in the following table, provided that progression through the stages set out in this table is in accordance with clause 16.9.

Stage of apprenticeship | % of MI7 for apprentices who have not completed year 12 | % of MI7 for apprentices who have completed year 12

Stage 1 | 50 | 55

Stage 2 | 60 | 65

Stage 3 | 85 | 85

Stage 4 | 95 | 95

16.9 Conditions for progression through each stage

The conditions for progression to each stage are set out in the following table:

Stage of apprenticeship entry, exit and progression requirements

Stage 1

Entry

Nil entry requirements

Exit

There is no exit point at this stage

Stage 2

Entry

An apprentice enters Stage 2:

 on attainment of 25% of the total competency points for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualification specified in the training plan; or

 12 months after commencing the apprenticeship, subject to clause 16.5(o);

whichever is earlier.

Exit

There is no exit point at this stage

Stage 3

Entry

An apprentice enters Stage 3:

 on attainment of 50% of the total competency points for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualification specified in the training plan; or

 12 months after commencing Stage 2, subject to clause 16.5(o);

whichever is earlier.

Exit

There is no exit point at this stage

Stage 4

Entry

An apprentice enters Stage 4:

 on attainment of 75% of the total competency points for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualification specified in the training plan; or

 12 months after commencing Stage 3, subject to clause 16.5(o);

whichever is earlier.

Exit

Upon the attainment of 100% of the total competency points for the relevant AQF Certificate III qualification specified in the training plan and subject to clauses 16.5(e), 16.5(f), 16.5(g) and 16.5(o), an apprentice will exit with the relevant AQF Certificate III qualification.

16.10 Higher duties

(a) An employee required to perform the duties of a position at a higher classification level for 2 hours or longer, must be paid, for all work done on that day or shift, the rate applicable for that higher level.

(b) If the work at the higher classification level is for less than 2 hours, the employee will be paid for 2 hours at the higher rate and the balance of their working time will be paid at the rate of the employee’s ordinary classification.

16.11 National training wage

[16.11(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.

[16.11(b) varied by PR720159 ppc 18Jun20, PR718877, PR729317, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339 ppc 01Jul26]

(b) This award incorporates the terms of Schedule E to the Miscellaneous Award 2020 as at 1 July 2026 Provided that any reference to “this award” in Schedule E to the Miscellaneous Award 2020 is to be read as referring to the Meat Industry Award 2020 and not the Miscellaneous Award 2020.

16.12 School based apprentices

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

16.13 Supported wage system

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

20. Allowances

[Varied by PR718877, PR719030, PR729317, PR729502, PR740742, PR740907, PR762168, PR762334, PR773945, PR774114, PR786597, PR786765, PR799339, PR799495]

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

20.1 Employers must pay to an employee any allowances the employee is entitled to under clause 20.

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

20.2 Wage-related allowances

(a) Cold temperature allowance

[20.2(a) varied by PR718877, PR729317, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339 ppc 01Jul26]

A cold temperature allowance will be paid to an employee who is required to work in a temperature artificially reduced below zero degrees Celsius for every hour or part of an hour for which, in the aggregate, the employee is required to work:

Temperature range | $ per hour or part thereof

Below zero but not below -16°C | 0.77

Below -16°C but not below -18°C | 1.33

Below -18°C but not below -21°C | 1.88

Below -21°C | 2.56

(b) First aid allowance

[20.2(b) varied by PR718877, PR729317, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339 ppc 01Jul26]

A first aid allowance of $4.18 per day must be paid to an appropriately qualified employee who acts instead of and performs the duties of a full-time first aid officer or nurse.

(c) Leading hand allowance

[20.2(c)(i) varied by PR718877, PR729317, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339 ppc 01Jul26]

(i) A leading hand allowance of $17.91 per week must be paid to leading hands supervising at least 3 but fewer than ten employees (including juniors and apprentices).

[20.2(c)(ii) varied by PR718877, PR729317, PR740742, PR762168, PR773945, PR786597, PR799339 ppc 01Jul26]

(ii) A leading hand allowance of $25.74 per week must be paid to leading hands supervising ten or more employees.

20.3 Expense-related allowances

(a) Clothing allowance (meat processing establishments only)

[20.3(a)(i) varied by PR799495 ppc 01Jul26]

(i) A clothing allowance of $3.70 per week, or $0.74 per day, will be paid to employees required to launder their own outer working clothes.

(ii) The allowance is not payable where the employer launders the employee’s outer working clothes free of charge.

(b) Meal allowance

[20.3(b) varied by PR719030, PR729502, PR740907, PR762334, PR774114, PR786765, PR799495 ppc 01Jul26]

A meal allowance of $19.14 will be paid to an employee who is required to work overtime for one and a half hours or more after the employee’s rostered finishing time.

(c) Travelling and transfers

Where an employee is temporarily transferred during working hours from one location to another, the employer will pay the employee all reasonable costs of transit and travelling time.