2025 WAIRC 00552
Furniture Trades Industry Award

8. - WAGES


(2) Wages

The minimum rate of wage for employees covered by this award shall be:



Total Minimum Rate$



(a)
Furniture Making Employee - Group 1
953.00

Furniture Making Employee - Group 2
953.00

Furniture Making Employee - Group 3
981.90

Furniture Making Employee - Group 4
1008.90

Furniture Making Employee - Group 5
1055.10

Furniture Making Employee - Group 6
1084.00

Furniture Making Employee - Group 7
1112.40




(b) 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.

(3) Tool Allowance

Where the employer does not provide a cabinetmaker with the tools ordinarily required by a cabinetmaker in the performance of his or her work of cabinetmaking, the employer shall pay a tool allowance of $12.30 per week.

The tool allowance for cabinetmaking apprentices shall be subject to the provisions hereof and, where applicable, paid at the rate prescribed by subclause (3) of Clause 34. - Apprentices.

(4) Apprentices

(a) The minimum rate of pay per week for an apprentice shall be the percentage shown in paragraph (b) herein of the total rate of pay for a Furniture Making Employee Group 5. (Rates for adult apprentices cannot be less than the rates set out in subclause (6) Minimum Adult Award Wage paragraph (9) of this Clause).

(b) Percentages:

(i)
Four Year Term -
%

First year
42

Second year
55

Third year
75

Fourth year
88



(ii)
Three and a Half Year Term -


First six months
42

Next year
55

Next following year
75

Final year
88



(iii)
Three Year Term -


Apprentices who have completed


12 months full time training -


First year
55

Second year
75

Third year
88



(iv)
Three Year Term -


First year
42

Second year
55

Third year
88

(5) Junior Employees

(a) The minimum rate of pay per week for a junior employee shall be the percentages shown in paragraph (b) herein, of the total rate of pay for a Furniture Making Employee Group 2, but in any event shall not be less than that provided in the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act.

(b)
Percentages
%

Under 16 years
38

Between 16 and 17 years
46

Between 17 and 18 years
53

Between 18 and 19 years
73

Between 19 and 20 years
80

Between 20 and 21 years
85

Liberty to amend this clause is reserved.

(6) Minimum Adult Award Wage

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

(b) 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.

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

(d) 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.

(e) 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.

(f) 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.

(g) 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.

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

(i) Apply to all work in ordinary hours.

(ii) 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.

(i) 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.

(j) Adult Apprentices

(i) 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.

(ii) 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.

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

(iv) 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.

(v) 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.

(vi) 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.



APPENDIX III - NATIONAL TRAINING WAGE

9 . - WAGES

(a) (i) The weekly wages payable to Trainees are as provided in paragraph (iv), (v), (vi) of this sub-clause.

(ii) These wage rates will only apply to Trainees while they are undertaking an approved traineeship which includes approved training as defined in this Appendix.

(iii) The wage rates prescribed by this clause do not apply to complete trade level training which is covered by the Apprenticeship system.

(iv) Skill Level A Where the accredited training course and work performed are for the purpose of generating skills which have been defined for work at Skill Level A.


Highest Year of Schooling Completed
School Leaver
Year 10 and below
Year 11
Year 12

$
$
$

287.00 (50%)*
336.00 (33%)
355.00 (33%)
400.00 (25%)
487.00
plus 1 year out of school
400.00
487.00
569.00
plus 2 years
487.00
569.00
663.00
plus 3 years
569.00
663.00
754.00
plus 4 years
663.00
754.00
 
plus 5 years or more
754.00
 
 

(v) Skill Level B Where the accredited training course and work performed are for the purpose of generating skills which have been defined for work at Skill Level B.


Highest Year of Schooling Completed
School Leaver
Year 10 and below
Year 11
Year 12

$
$
$

287.00 (50%)*
336.00 (33%)
355.00 (33%)
400.00 (25%)
479.00
plus 1 year out of school
400.00
479.00
548.00
plus 2 years
479.00
548.00
644.00
plus 3 years
548.00
644.00
732.00
plus 4 years
644.00
732.00
 
plus 5 years or more
732.00
 
 

(vi) Skill Level C Where the accredited training course and work performed are for the purpose of generating skills which have been defined for work at Skill Level C.


Highest Year of Schooling Completed
School Leaver
Year 10 and below
Year 11
Year 12

$
$
$

287.00(50%)*
336.00 (33%)
355.00 (33%)
400.00 (25%)
479.00
plus 1 year out of school
400.00
479.00
542.00
plus 2 years
479.00
542.00
610.00
plus 3 years
542.00
610.00
676.00
plus 4 years
610.00
676.00
 
plus 5 years or more
676.00
 
 

(vii)

Year of Schooling

Year 11 or lower
$
Year 12
$
School Based Traineeship Skill Levels A, B and C
406.00
438.00

* Figures in brackets indicate the average proportion of time spent in approved training to which the associated wage rate is applicable. Where not specifically indicated the average proportion of time spent in structured training which has been taken into account in setting the rate is 20 percent.

(viii) 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.