2025 WAIRC 00469
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry (Construction and Servicing) Award No. 10 of 1979

29. - WAGES

(1) (a) Subject to Clause 16. - Special Rates and Provisions of this award, the ordinary weekly rate of wage shall be as set out hereunder and shall be inclusive of all special rates and allowances and be paid as an "all purpose" rate.

(b) The ordinary weekly wage of an employee (other than an apprentice) shall consist of the base rate and the special payment as set out in subclause (2) of this clause.

The rates of pay in this award include arbitrated safety net adjustments available since December 1993, under the Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment Principle.

These arbitrated safety net adjustments may be offset against any equivalent amount in the rate of pay received by employees since 1 November 1991 above the rate prescribed in the Award, except where such absorption is contrary to the terms of an industrial agreement.

Increases in rates of pay otherwise made under the State Wage Case Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset arbitrated safety net adjustments.

(2) (a)

Classification
BaseRate$
SpecialPayment$
ArbitratedSafety NetAdjustments$
Total Rate Per Week$





Instrument Fitter
380.10
80.00
654.40
1114.50





Welder - Special Class
371.40
80.00
650.90
1102.30
Welder
362.80
80.00
647.60
1090.40





Tradesperson
362.80
80.00
647.60
1090.40





Refrigeration Fitter
362.80
80.00
647.60
1090.40





Boilermaker -Structural Steel Tradesperson
362.80
80.00
647.60
1090.40





Sheetmetal Employee -




First Class
362.80
80.00
647.60
1090.40
Second Class - 1st six months in industry
310.20
64.30
620.30
994.80
Thereafter
327.20
66.80
625.90
1019.90





Certificated Rigger or Scaffolder
345.70
68.90
631.70
1046.30
Rigger or Scaffolder -Other
334.70
67.60
628.10
1030.40





Tool and Material Storeperson
322.90
65.80
624.10
1012.80





Tradesperson's Assistant
310.20
64.30
620.30
994.80





Tradesperson's Assistant who from time to time uses a grinding machine
311.70
65.80
621.00
998.50





Lagger -




1st six months' experience
310.20
63.40
619.80
993.40
2nd & 3rd six months' experience
311.70
65.40
621.00
998.10
4th & 5th six months' experience
315.90
65.60
622.00
1003.50
Thereafter
317.40
66.60
622.90
1006.90






(b) A Certified Rigger, other than a Leading Hand, who in compliance with the provisions of the regulations made pursuant to the Construction Safety Act 1972, is responsible for the supervision of other employees shall be deemed to be a Leading Hand and be paid the additional rate prescribed for a leading hand placed in charge of not less than three and not more than 10 other employees.

(3) Apprentices:

(a) Wages per week expressed as a percentage of the "Tradesperson's " rate:

Five Year Term -
%


First Year
40
Second Year
48
Third Year
55
Fourth Year
75
Fifth Year
88


Four Year Term -
%


First Year .................
42
Second Year ................
55
Third Year .................
75
Fourth Year ................
88


Three and a Half Year Term -
%


First six months ...........
42
Next Year ..................
55
Following Year .............
75
Final Year .................
88


Three Year Term -
%


First Year .................
55
Second Year ................
75
Third Year .................
88

(b) For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this subclause, "Tradesperson's rate" means the base rate and the special payment prescribed in subclause (2) of this clause for the classification "Tradesperson".

(4) (a) In addition to the appropriate rates of pay prescribed in this clause, an employee shall be paid -

(i) $46.90 per week if engaged on the construction of a large industrial undertaking or any large civil engineering project.

(ii) $42.20 per week if engaged on a multi-storey building, but only until the exterior walls have been erected and the windows completed and a lift made available to carry the employee between the ground floor and the floor upon which he/she is required to work. A multi-storey building is a building which, when completed, will consist of at least five storeys.

(iii) $24.80 per week if engaged otherwise on construction work falling within the definition of construction work in Clause 5. - Definitions of this award.

(b) Any dispute as to which of the aforesaid allowances apply to particular work shall be determined by the Board of Reference.

(5) Leading Hands:

In addition to the appropriate total wage prescribed in this clause a leading hand shall be paid -



$



(a)
If placed in charge of not less than three and not more than 10 other employees
26.70



(b)
If placed in charge of more than 10 and not more than 20 other employees
40.50



(c)
If placed in charge of more than 20 other employees
52.40

(6) Casual Employees:

A casual employee shall be paid 20 per cent of the ordinary rate in addition to the ordinary wage for the calling in which the employee is employed.

(7) The classification "Sheetmetal Worker - Second Class - First Six Months' Experience in Industry" shall only be applied to an employee who commences employment in the industry after July 25, 1979.

(8) (a) Where an employer does not provide a tradesperson, second-class sheetmetal employee or an apprentice with the tools ordinarily required by that tradesperson second-class sheetmetal employee or an apprentice in the performance of work as a tradesperson, second-class sheetmetal employee or as an apprentice, the employer shall pay a tool allowance of -

(i) $14.70 per week to such tradesperson or second-class sheetmetal employee; or

(ii) in the case of an apprentice a percentage of $14.70 being the percentage which appears against the year of apprenticeship in subclause (3) hereof, for the purpose of such tradesperson, second-class sheetmetal employee or Apprentice supplying and maintaining tools ordinarily required in the performance of work as a tradesperson, second-class sheetmetal employee or as an apprentice.

(b) Any tool allowance paid pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subclause shall be included in, and form part of, the ordinary weekly wage prescribed in this subclause.

(c) An employer shall provide for the use of tradesperson, second-class sheetmetal employee and apprentice all necessary power tools, special purpose tools and precision measuring instruments.

(d) A tradesperson, second-class sheetmetal employee or an apprentice shall replace or pay for any tools supplied by the employer, if lost through the employee's negligence.



29A. - MINIMUM ADULT AWARD WAGE

(1) No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.

(2) The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $953.00 per week.

The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under awards that provide for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $953.00 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time employee under the award.

The minimum adult award wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(3) The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.

(4) Unless otherwise provided in this clause adults aged 21 or more employed as casuals, part-time employees or piece workers or employees who are remunerated wholly on the basis of payment by results, shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult award wage according to the hours worked.

(5) Employees under the age of 21 shall be paid no less than the wage determined by applying the percentage prescribed in the junior rates provision in this award (if applicable) to the minimum adult award wage, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.

(6) The minimum adult award wage shall not apply to apprentices, employees engaged on traineeships or government approved work placement programs or employed under the Commonwealth Government Supported Wage System or to other categories of employees who by prescription are paid less than the minimum award rate, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.

(7) Liberty to apply is reserved in relation to any special category of employees not included here or otherwise in relation to the application of the minimum adult award wage.

(8) Subject to this clause the minimum adult award wage shall –

(a) Apply to all work in ordinary hours.

(b) Apply to the calculation of overtime and all other penalty rates, superannuation, payments during any period of paid leave and for all purposes of this award.

(9) Minimum Adult Award Wage

The rates of pay in this award include the minimum weekly wage for employees aged 21 or more payable under the 2025 State Wage order. Any increase arising from the insertion of the minimum wage will be offset against any equivalent amount in rates of pay received by employees whose wages and conditions of employment are regulated by this award which are above the wage rates prescribed in the award. Such above award payments include wages payable pursuant to enterprise agreements, consent awards or award variations to give effect to enterprise agreements and over award arrangements. Absorption which is contrary to the terms of an agreement is not required.

Increases under previous State Wage Case Principles or under the current Statement of Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset the minimum wage.

(10) Adult Apprentices

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, the minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $791.30 per week.

(b) The minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $791.30 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time apprentice under the award.

(c) The minimum adult apprentice wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(d) Adult apprentices aged 21 years or more employed on a part-time basis shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult apprentice wage according to the hours worked.

(e) The rates paid in the paragraphs above to an apprentice 21 years of age or more are payable on superannuation and during any period of paid leave prescribed by this award.

(f) Where in this award an additional rate is expressed as a percentage, fraction or multiple of the ordinary rate of pay, it shall be calculated upon the rate prescribed in this award for the actual year of apprenticeship.