Wages and awards
Click here to download Sugar Industry Award 2005 (194KB)
Check the latest legislation on-line http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Legislation.htm
NEW: Fair work information booklet for Agricultural Producers (2MB)
Click here to download Cane Farm Workers Guide (427 KB)
Click here to download Long Service Leave Information (449 KB)
Please scroll down to find state, followed by federal wage setting information.
Wage increase under Queensland Awards
from 1 September 2009
Wage increase under Queensland Awards from 1 September 2009
The Full Bench of the Queensland Industrial Relation Commission (QIRC) has granted a $16.20 per week wage increase to award wage rates for all Queensland State Awards with effect from 1 September 2009.
Employers in the sugar industry who are unincorporated entities (e.g. sole traders and partnerships) continue to be covered by the State jurisdiction and so this wage increase of $16.20 per week flows to the employees of these unincorporated employers. An increase of $8.10 per week applies to the Award wages for the ‘Youth classifications’ for the Cultivation/cane production stream employees under the Sugar Industry Field Sector Award. As part of the decision Work related allowances have been increased by 2.5%.
CANEGROWERS presented a submission recommending a wage freeze however the QIRC has made the decision to increase the minimum wage by 2.5%, which is equal to the national CPI.
Revised wage rates from 1 September 2009 for State Field Sector Award
A table of the revised wage rates to apply from 1 September 2009 is attached and a copy will be included in the next issue of the Australian Canegrower magazine. We will also place the revised wage rates on the CANEGROWERS Web site for members only.
***Important note: The Austsafe weekly superannuation contribution is now calculated as 9% of each employee’s Ordinary Time Earnings from 1 July 2008.
Superannuation contribution must be calculated at 9% of each individual employee’s Ordinary Time Earnings as from 1 July 2008.
Employers please note – The single flat rate weekly superannuation contribution is no longer available following legislative changes.
Calculation of Standard Ordinary Hourly Rate - for all purposes of the Award, the Standard Ordinary Hourly Rate for each of the Classifications contained herein shall be the Weekly Rate divided by 38 with rounding on the fourth decimal place
Daily Rate - Employees engaged on a daily basis shall be paid the number of guaranteed hours by the hourly rate applicable to ordinary time working hours for the day upon which the work is performed.
Single Contract Hourly Rate - Employees engaged on a single contract hourly rate shall be paid the number of hours worked per day at 115% of the applicable classification standard ordinary hourly rate irrespective of the number of hours worked per day or per pay period or the days of the pay period on which work is performed. Employees engaged on this basis shall be entitled to sick leave and annual leave entitlements.
Piecework Rate - Employees engaged on a piecework basis shall be paid a minimum piecework rate sufficient to equal the payment for actual hours worked at both ordinary time and overtime in the
relevant pay period plus a loading of 20%. This 20% loading is in lieu of sick leave and annual leave entitlements.
Shift allowance - The Field Sector Award provides that shiftwork of up to 2 shifts per day may be worked provided that a minimum period of shift work of 4 weeks is in operation and the employees are worked on a roster which allows for rotation through the respective shifts. An allowance shall be paid for each shift in addition to the employee's ordinary time award wage rate. Employees engaged on afternoon and night shift, shall be paid an additional penalty rate as follows:
* Afternoon Shift - 12.5% (or $9.70 whichever is the greater)
* Night Shift - 15% (or $9.70 whichever is the greater)
Note: (A) 'Afternoon Shift' shall mean any shift finishing after 6.00pm and at or before midnight;
(B) 'Night Shift' shall mean any shift finishing after midnight and or before 8.00am or where the majority of hours worked in the shift fall between midnight and 8.00am;
(C) The percentage quoted shall be the amount which is payable for each shift in addition to the employee's ordinary time award wage rate.
Wage increase under Federal Awards
The Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC) has granted a pay increase of $21.66 per week for all pay scales for employees on 38 hours per week (except Junior/Youth Classifications) with effect from 1 October 2008. This equates to an hourly increase of $0.57. In the case of the Junior/Youth Classifications the increased weekly wage is calculated as a percentage of the adjusted Adult wage rate. As you are aware the AFPC decision applies only to corporate employers covered by the current Federal IR system (formerly WorkChoices). A revised table of the wage rates is attached and this table will appear in the next Australian Canegrower magazine.
With respect to Occupational Superannuation contributions from 1 July 2008 such contributions are calculated as 9% of each eligible employee’s Ordinary Time Earnings (OTE) and so for those employers covered by WorkChoices, the AFPC decision also increases the weekly occupational superannuation contribution to Austsafe (or alternatively the Superannuation Fund where the employee has formally exercised his/her right on the Choice of superannuation fund and requested the employer to make all superannuation contributions to that designated Superannuation Fund). We remind growers that this Choice of superannuation fund is available to employees of the Sugar Field Sector corporate employers (i.e. those employers covered by WorkChoices).
Australian Fair Pay Commission Decision effective from 1 October 2008
As you are aware the Australian Fair Pay Commission (APFC) is responsible for setting and adjusting minimum wages within the federal jurisdiction. With effect from 1 October 2008, the AFPC has handed down its decision granting a $21.66 per week increase in wages payable by employers who are covered by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008 formerly the Workplace Relations Amendment (WorkChoices) Act 2005. For ease of reference we shall continue to refer to it as WorkChoices.
The AFPC wage setting decision applies only to employers (and their respective employees) who are covered by the Federal jurisdiction.
Please note: The APFC decision does not apply to employers who operate as unincorporated entities (e.g. sole traders and partnerships) because these employers and their employees continue to be covered within the State jurisdiction under the Sugar Field Sector Award – State 2005.
Because corporate employers in the Sugar Industry Field Sector are covered under the Federal industrial relations system (WorkChoices) the wage rates applying from 1 October 2008 will increase to reflect the AFPC decision. For your information the AFPC wage setting decision provides for -
- an increase of $21.66 per week ($0.57 per hour) to the standard Federal Minimum Wage (FMW) bringing the weekly rate to $543.80. In this regard the standard FMW increases from $13.74 to $14.31 per hour; and
- an increase of $21.66 per week ($0.57 per hour) in all adult Australian Pay and Classification Scales (Pay Scales).
WorkChoices revised wage rates from 1 September 2008 for Sugar Field Sector NAPSA
A table of the revised wage rates to apply from 1 October 2008 is attached. This table will appear in the next Australian Canegrower magazine and a copy will be included on the CANEGROWERS Web site for members only.
Youth Classifications
For the Youth Classifications, the revised wage rate which is to represent the increase in wages is calculated based on a percentage of the Adult rate, which is the Cultivation/Cane Production Employee Inductee/Trainee. The relevant percentages are 62.965765% for Youths under 18 years and 75.222243% for Youths 18 to 19 years. Future AFPC decisions will impact on the Junior/Youth Classifications wage rates by these percentages.
Single Contract Hourly Rate for Youth Classifications
Just a reminder that the Workplace Authority has advised with respect to the calculation of the SCHR for the Youth Classification in the Central and Northern Districts we are to use the SOHR for the Southern District, multiply by 115% and then add the relevant district parity allowance (e.g. for the Central District having calculated the 115% rate then increase this rate by $0.02368 per/hour, which is 90 cents divided by 38) instead of adding the parity allowance to the Southern District weekly rate and dividing by 38 to get the Central District SOHR and then multiplying by 115% for the SCHR. I have calculated the SCHR for each of the Districts and I will circulate these figures in the near future.
Occupational Superannuation contribution under WorkChoices Sugar Field (NAPSA)
Under the Federal jurisdiction the Employee has the right to choose the Superannuation Fund into which the Employer contributions are to be made. However, the default fund continues to be the Austsafe Fund.
For the Sugar Field Sector NAPSA under WorkChoices, the superannuation contribution is calculated at 9% of the employee’s ordinary time earnings.
If you have any queries or have need for further information about any aspects of the above advice please give me a call.
Attachment 1
Australian Canegrower Magazine WorkChoices Wages Table
WorkChoices Wage Rates from 1 October 2008
WorkChoices NAPSA – Sugar Field Sector Award – State 2005 AN140282-Qld
Applicable to Sugar Industry Field Sector Employers covered by WorkChoices
Southern District |
Central District |
Northern District | ||||
Classification |
$ per week |
$ per hour Standard ordinary |
$ per week |
$ per hour Standard ordinary |
$ per week |
$ per hour Standard ordinary |
Cultivation/cane production employee Youths under 18 years |
370.10 |
9.7395 |
371.00 |
9.7632 |
371.15 |
9.7671 |
Youths 18 - 19 years |
442.30 |
11.6395 |
443.20 |
11.6632 |
443.35 |
11.6671 |
Cultivation/cane production employee Inductee/trainee |
588.10 |
15.4763 |
589.00 |
15.5000 |
589.15 |
15.5039 |
Grade 1 |
636.40 |
16.7474 |
637.30 |
16.7711 |
637.45 |
16.7750 |
Grade 2 |
659.60 |
17.3579 |
660.50 |
17.3816 |
660.65 |
17.3855 |
Cane haulage employee |
620.50 |
16.3289 |
621.40 |
16.3526 |
621.55 |
16.3566 |
Grade 1 |
636.40 |
16.7474 |
637.30 |
16.7711 |
637.45 |
16.7750 |
Grade 2 |
659.60 |
17.3579 |
660.50 |
17.3816 |
660.65 |
17.3855 |
Cane harvesting employee Inductee/trainee |
636.40 |
16.7474 |
637.30 |
16.7711 |
637.45 |
16.7750 |
Grade 1 |
659.60 |
17.3579 |
660.50 |
17.3816 |
660.65 |
17.3855 |
Grade 2 |
680.40 |
17.9053 |
681.30 |
17.9289 |
681.45 |
17.9329 |
*** Important note: Austsafe weekly contribution now calculated as 9% of each employees Ordinary Time Earnings from 1 July 2008 |
Superannuation contribution must be calculated at 9% of each individual employee's Ordinary Time Earnings as from 1 July 2008. |
Employers please note - The single flat rate weekly superannuation contribution is no longer available following legislative changes. |
Calculation of Standard Ordinary Hourly Rate (SOHR) - For all purposes of the Award, the Standard Ordinary Hourly Rate for each of the Classifications contained herein shall be the Weekly Rate divided by 38 with rounding to the nearest cent for the Southern District and rounding on the fourth decimal place for the Central and Northern Districts. |
Daily Rate - Employees engaged on a daily basis shall be paid the number of guaranteed hours by the hourly rate applicable to ordinary time working hours for the day upon which the work is performed. |
Single Contract Hourly Rate (SCHR) – Adult employees engaged on a single contract hourly rate shall be paid the number of hours worked per day at 115% of the applicable classification standard ordinary hourly rate irrespective of the number of hours worked per day or per pay period or the days of the pay period on which work is performed. Employees engaged on this basis shall be entitled to sick leave and annual leave entitlements. For the Youth Classifications the 115% is calculated on the Southern District SOHR and then the District Parity allowance is added. |
Piecework Rate - Employees engaged on a piecework basis shall be paid a minimum piecework rate sufficient to equal the payment for actual hours worked at both ordinary time and overtime in the relevant pay period plus a loading of 20%. This 20% loading is in lieu of sick leave and annual leave entitlements. |
Shift allowance - The Field Sector Award (NAPSA) provides that shiftwork of up to 2 shifts per day may be worked provided that a minimum period of shift work of 4 weeks is in operation and the employees are worked on a roster which allows for rotation through the respective shifts. An allowance shall be paid for each shift in addition to the employee's ordinary time award wage rate. Employees engaged on afternoon and night shift, shall be paid an additional penalty rate as follows: * Afternoon Shift - 12.5% (or $9.70 whichever is the greater) * Night Shift - 15% (or $9.70 whichever is the greater) Note: (A) 'Afternoon Shift' shall mean any shift finishing after 6.00pm and at or before midnight; (B) 'Night Shift' shall mean any shift finishing after midnight and or before 8.00am or where the majority of hours worked in the shift fall between midnight and 8.00am; (C) The percentage quoted shall be the amount which is payable for each shift in addition to the employee's ordinary time award wage rate. |
WorkChoices Wage Calcs 1 Oct 2008 for Australian Canegrowers Mag.doc |