2025 WAIRC 00485
Building Trades and Labourers (Construction) Award

1B. - 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.




8. - RATES OF PAY

(1) Except as elsewhere provided in this Award the rates of pay payable to an employee (other than an apprentice) shall be that prescribed herein calculated as an hourly rate in accordance with subclause (4) of this clause.

(2) Weekly Rate: The following amounts shall be applied for the purpose of the calculation in subclause (4) of this clause of the hourly rate to apply under this Award.




Base Rate$
Supple- mentary Payment$
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment$
Weekly Rate$







(a)
(i)
Bricklayers, stoneworkers, stonemasons, carpenters, joiners, painters, signwriters, glaziers, plasterers roof tile fixers, and concrete tradesperson (Certificate III trade qualified)
365.20
52.10
637.90
1055.20








(ii)
Plumber and/or gasfitter
368.00
52.10
639.10
1059.20








(iii)
Plumber holding registration in accordance with the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Act:






Base Rate
368.00












Reg. Allowance $ 17.30
385.30
52.10
645.80
1083.20








(iv)
Marker/Setter Out
378.60
52.10
643.10
1073.80








(v)
Special Class Tradesman
385.00
52.10
645.50
1082.60







(b)
(i)
Group 1













Rigger
362.30
52.10
631.70
1046.10


Drainer
362.30
52.10
631.70
1046.10


Dogman
362.30
52.10
631.70
1046.10








(ii)
Group 2













Scaffolder
346.70
52.10
627.10
1025.90


Powder Monkey
346.70
52.10
627.10
1025.90


Hoist or Winch Driver
346.70
52.10
627.10
1025.90


Concrete Finisher
346.70
52.10
627.10
1025.90


Steel Fixer including Tack Welder
346.70
52.10
627.10
1025.90


Concrete Pump Operator
346.70
52.10
627.10
1025.90








(iii)
Group 3













Bricklayer's Labourer
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Plasterer's Labourer
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Assistant Powder Monkey
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Assistant Rigger
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Demolition Worker (after three months' experience)
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Gear Hand
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Cement Gun Operator
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Concrete Cutting or Drilling Machine Operator
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Pile Driver
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Tackle Hand
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Jackhammer Hand
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Mixer Driver (Concrete)
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Steel Erector
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Aluminium Alloy Structural Erector
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Gantry Hand or Crane Hand
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Concrete Gang Including Concrete Floater
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Steel or Bar Bender to Pattern or Plan
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Concrete Formwork Stripper
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Concrete Pump Hose Hand
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Trades Labourer
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Brick Paver Labourer
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90


Brick Cleaner/Labourer
335.10
52.10
623.70
1010.90








(iv)
Group 4













Builders' Labourers Employed on Work Other Than Specified in Classifications (i) to (iii)
306.60
52.10
615.70
974.40








(c) Supplementary Payments

Supplementary payments set out in this clause represent payments in lieu of equivalent overaward payments.

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 shall 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. For these purposes over award rates of pay in any industrial agreement affecting employees whose terms of employment are also regulated by the award shall likewise be liable to absorption unless contrary to the terms of the 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.

(3) Industry Allowance

The industry allowance at the rate of $30.00 per week to be paid to each employee is to compensate for the following disabilities associated with construction work:-

(a) Climate conditions when working in the open on all types of work.

(b) The physical disadvantage of having to climb stairs or ladders.

(c) The disability of dust blowing in the wind, brick dust and drippings from concrete.

(d) Sloppy and muddy conditions associated with the initial stages of the erection of a building.

(e) The disability of working on all types of scaffolding or ladders other than a swing scaffold, suspended scaffold, or a bosun's chair.

(f) The lack of the usual amenities associated with factory work (e.g. meal rooms, change rooms, lockers).

(4) Hourly Rate Calculation - Follow the Job Loading

(a) The hourly rate of pay to be paid to an adult employee (other than an apprentice) shall be calculated to the nearest cent (less than half a cent to be disregarded) by multiplying the sum of the amounts prescribed in subclause (2) and the amount prescribed in subclause (3) and where applicable in subclauses (6), (7), (8) and (9) of this clause by 52 and dividing the result by 50.4 by adding to that the amount prescribed in subclause (5) of this clause and by dividing the total by 38.

(b) The aforementioned calculation shall take into account a factor of eight days in respect of the incidence of loss of wages for periods of unemployment between jobs.

(5) Special Allowance

The special allowance at the rate of $7.70 per week to be paid to each employee is to compensate for the following:-

(a) Excess travelling time incurred by employees in the building industry;

(b) The removal of loadings from the various building awards consequent upon the introduction of this paid rates award in the industry.

(6) Tool Allowance

Tool allowances shall be paid to tradesmen as prescribed hereunder:-


Per Week

$


Carpenters, Joiners, Plumbers, Stonemasons, Stoneworkers
31.00
Plasterers, Fixers
25.60
Bricklayers
21.90
Roof Tile Fixers
16.00
Signwriters, Painters, Glaziers
7.50

(7) Location Allowance

Where applicable location allowances in accordance with Appendix A will be paid.

(8) Underground Allowance

(a) (i) Subject to paragraph (b) hereof, an employee required to work underground shall be paid an allowance of $14.40 per week in addition to the allowance prescribed in subclause (3) of this clause and any other amount prescribed for such employee elsewhere in this award.

(ii) Where a shaft is to be sunk to a depth greater than six metres the payment of the underground allowance shall commence from the surface.

(iii) This allowance shall not be payable to an employee engaged upon "pot and drive" work at a depth of 3.5 metres or less.

(b) Where an employee is required to work underground for no more than four days or shifts in any ordinary week he/she shall be paid an underground allowance in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (t) of subclause (1) of Clause 9. - Special Rates and Provisions in lieu of the allowance prescribed in paragraph (a) hereof.

(9) Plumbing Trade Allowance

Plumbers shall be paid an allowance at the rate of $23.70 per week to compensate for the following classes of work and in lieu of the relevant amounts in Clause 9. - Special Rates and Provisions whether or not such work is performed in any one week. When working outside the categories listed hereunder, a plumber shall receive the appropriate rates provided for in the said Clause 9. - Special Rates and Provisions.

(a) General Plumber

(i) Clearing stoppages in soil or waste pipes, or sewer drain pipes, also repairing and putting same in proper order;

(ii) Work in wet places;

(iii) Work requiring a swing scaffold, swing seat or rope;

(iv) Dirty or offensive work;

(v) Work in any confined space;

(vi) Work on a ladder exceeding eight metres in height.

(b) Mechanical Services Plumber

(i) Handling charcoal, pumice, granulated cork, silicate of cotton, insulwool, slag wool, or other recognised insulation material of a like nature or working in the immediate vicinity so as to be affected by the use thereof;

(ii) Work in a place where the temperature has been raised by artificial means to between 46 and 54 degrees celsius or exceeding 54 degrees celsius;

(iii) Work in a place where fumes of sulphur or other acid or other offensive fumes are present;

(iv) Dirty or offensive work;

(v) Work in any confined space;

(vi) Work on a ladder exceeding eight metres in height.

(c) Roof Plumber

(i) Work on the fixing of aluminium foil insulation on roofs or walls prior to the sheeting thereof;

(ii) Use of explosive powered tools;

(iii) Work requiring use of materials containing asbestos or to work in close proximity to employees using such materials shall be provided with and shall use all necessary safeguards as required by the appropriate occupational health authority including the mandatory wearing of protective equipment (i.e. combination overalls and breathing equipment or similar apparatus);

(iv) Dirty or offensive work;

(v) Work requiring a swing scaffold, swing seat or rope;

(vi) Work on a ladder exceeding eight metres in height.

(10) Leading Hands

(a) A person specifically appointed to be a leading hand shall be paid at the rate of the undermentioned additional amounts above the rate of the highest classification supervised, or his/her own rate, whichever is the highest, in accordance with the number of persons in his/her charge:-



Weekly Base Only$
Rate Per Hour$




(i)
In charge of not more than one person
25.00
0.67




(ii)
In charge of two and not more than five persons
42.10
1.14




(iii)
In charge of six and not more than ten persons
53.40
1.44




(iv)
In charge of more than ten persons
71.20
1.93

(b) The hourly rate prescribed in paragraph (a) hereof is calculated to the nearest cent (less than half a cent to be disregarded) by multiplying the weekly base amount by 52 and dividing the result by 50.4 and by dividing the amount by 38.

(11) Licensed Plumbers Accepting Responsibility

Any licensed plumber called upon by his/her employer to use the licence issued to him/her by the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Board for a period in any week - $46.40 for that week.

(12) Plumber Acting on Welding Certificate

A plumber who is requested by his/her employer to hold the relevant qualifications and has obtained a certificate of competency pursuant to procedures as set out by the Standards Association of Australia or other relevant recognised codes, or, who may have to carry out work which is subject to other special tests but not a normal trade test, and is required by his/her employer to act on such qualifications, shall be paid an additional 61 cents per hour for oxyacetylene welding and 61 cents per hour for electric welding for every hour of his/her employment whether or not he/she has in any hour performed work relevant to those qualifications held.

(13) Lead Work

A plumber engaged in leadburning or lead work in connection therewith shall be paid an additional $2.08 per hour.

(14) Ship's Plumbing

A plumber engaged on plumbing work in connection with ships shall be paid an additional $1.45 per hour.

(15) Casual Hands

In addition to the rate appropriate for the type of work, a casual hand shall be paid an additional 20 per cent of the rate per hour with a minimum payment as for three hours employment. The penalty rate herein prescribed shall be deemed to include, inter alia, compensation for annual leave.

(16) Site Allowances

The Union on behalf of its members may request an employer to consider a site allowance to compensate for all special factors and/or disabilities on a project.

Where the parties have considered the merit of the claim and have agreed on a proposed rate, it shall be referred to the Commission for ratification.

Where agreement cannot be reached, the parties shall refer the matter to the Commission which shall determine an appropriate rate, if any, to compensate for such special factors and/or disabilities: Provided, however, that the Commission may determine that such site allowance shall be paid in lieu of any of the special rates related to conditions on the site as prescribed in Clause 9 subclause (1).

The Commission shall ratify or determine such matters on the criteria outlined in the Full Bench Decision of the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission dated February 25, 1983 (Print F1957).

Where the procedure prescribed by this subclause is being followed, work shall continue normally.

A site allowance determined in accordance with this subclause shall be deemed to be prescribed by this Award.

(17) Trainees

The minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment applicable to trainees will be those set out in Schedule D - National Training Wage of the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 as amended from time to time. Provided that any reference to “this award” in Schedule D to the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 is to be read as referring to the Building Trades and Labourers (Construction) Award.

Note: The Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 is a modern award that applies to employers and employees in the national industrial relations system. The rates of pay for trainees are usually adjusted from 1 July each year.