How many rest breaks apply?
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Quick explanation
Previously reviewed explanation — check official wording before use
Work of more than 3 hours and up to 6 hours attracts one 10-minute rest break; work longer than 6 hours attracts two 10-minute rest breaks.
Check the conditions
- Exclude unpaid meal breaks when counting the period worked.
Read the official wording and citations
Poultry Processing Award 2020 — FWC Award text hosted by the Fair Work Ombudsman
FWC · MA000074 · Clause 14
14. Breaks
14.1 Unpaid meal breaks
An employee is entitled to an unpaid meal break of not less than 30 minutes and not more than 60 minutes to be taken not later than 6 hours after the commencement of work.
14.2 Rest breaks
(a) Employees are entitled to either:
(i) one rest break of ten minutes where the employee works more than 3 hours but less than or equal to 6 hours; or
(ii) 2 rest breaks of ten minutes each during a period of work greater than 6 hours.
(b) The periods of work set out in clause 14.2(a) exclude any unpaid meal break.
14.3 Crib time
Where a shiftworker works consecutive shifts of 8 hours or longer per day, the shiftworker is entitled to a paid 20 minute crib time break instead of any other meal break provided in this award.
14.4 Rest period after overtime
The minimum rest period after working overtime is provided in clause 19.7.
Part 4—Wages and Allowances
Complete top-level clause extracted from the checked official consolidated text, including the available subordinate paragraphs and tables. Source wording and official numbering retained; whitespace/table layout normalised. AI source-checked for this user-authorised local release; no human professional review.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2026. Fair Work Commission. Consolidated Award text hosted by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Quotations retain source wording; whitespace/table formatting is normalised for display. Personal/non-commercial or internal use only under the FWC copyright notice. Quick Award explanations are separate AI source-checked text; no government endorsement.
- Official document
- Poultry Processing Award 2020 — FWC Award text hosted by the Fair Work Ombudsman ↗
- Version
- This Fair Work Commission consolidated modern award incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799280, PR799354 and PR799510). ↗
- Citation verified
- Operative note
- Explains the current consolidated Award text incorporating amendments up to and including 1 July 2026, checked on 25 October 2026. The consolidation date is not a commencement date for these rules; historical work requires the text and variations applicable at that time.