2025 WAIRC 00554
Gate, Fence and Frames Manufacturing 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.



FIRST SCHEDULE - WAGES

(1) (a) Adult Employees:


Rate Per Week
Supplementary Payment
Safety Net Adjustment Payment
Total Rate Per week
Machinist (Wire) “A”
333.30
23.30
615.10
971.70
Machinist (Wire) “B”
320.70
18.60
613.70
953.00
Machinist (Wire) Assistant
314.30
17.50
621.20
953.00
Framer “A”
333.30
23.30
615.10
971.70
Framer “B”
310.40
17.50
625.10
953.00
Process Employee
310.40
17.50
625.10
953.00
Wirer
310.40
17.50
625.10
953.00
Welder “A”
363.20
34.10
626.70
1024.00
Welder “B”
316.10
18.60
618.30
953.00
Welder “C”
312.00
17.50
623.50
953.00
Painter of Iron Work
319.30
18.60
615.10
953.00
Erector
316.10
18.60
618.30
953.00
Erector’s Assistant
310.40
17.50
625.10
953.00
Tool and Material Storeperson
323.10
20.10
611.20
954.40
Tradesperson
363.20
34.10
626.70
1024.00
Mechanical Tradesperson- Special Class
386.90
39.00
641.30
1067.20

(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.

(2) Leading Hand: In addition to the appropriate rate prescribed in subclause (1) of this clause, a leading hand shall be paid:



$
(a)
If placed in charge of not less than three and not more than twenty other employees
41.40
(b)
If placed in charge of more than ten and not more than twenty other employees
63.50
(c)
If placed in charge of more than twenty other employees
82.00

(3) Apprentices:

(a) (Wages per week expressed as a percentage of the "Tradesman'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
Second Six Months
55
Next Year
75
Final Year
88


Three Year Term

First Year
55
Second Year
75
Third Year
88

(b) For the purpose of subclause (a) of this clause "Tradesman's" rate means the total wage for the classification "tradesman" as set out in subclause (1) of this Schedule.

(4) Junior Employees:

(a) (Wages per week expressed as a percentage of the "Process Employees" rate).


%


Under 16 years of age
40
16 years of age
50
17 years of age
60
18 years of age
70
19 years of age
80
20 years of age
93

(b) For the purpose of subclause (a) of this clause "Process Employees" rate means the total wage for the classification "Process Employee" as set out in subclause (1) of this Schedule.

(5) A casual employee shall be paid twenty per cent of the ordinary rate in addition to the rate for the calling in which he is employed.

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

(i) $23.10 per week to such tradesperson, or

(ii) In the case of an apprentice a percentage of $23.10 being the percentage which appears against the year of apprenticeship in subclause (a) of subclause (3) of this Schedule.

For the purpose of such tradesperson or apprentice supplying and maintaining tools ordinarily required in the performance of their work as a tradesperson or 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 schedule.

(c) An employer shall provide for the use of tradespersons or apprentices all necessary power tools, special purpose tools and precision measuring instruments.

(d) A tradesperson or apprentice shall replace or pay for any tools supplied by the employer, if lost through their negligence.

(7) Structural Efficiency:

(a) Arising out of the decision of 8 September 1989 in the State Wage Case and in consideration of the wage increases resulting from the first structural efficiency adjustment in Application No. 1707 of 1989, employees are to perform a wider range of duties including work which is incidental or peripheral to their main tasks or functions.

(b) The parties to this award are committed to co-operating positively to increase the efficiency, productivity and international competitiveness of the gate, fence and frame manufacturing industry and to enhance the career opportunities and job security of employees in the industry.

(c) At each plant or enterprise a consultative mechanism may be established by the employer, or shall be established upon request by the employees or their relevant union or unions. The consultative mechanism and procedure shall be appropriate to the size, structure and needs of that plant or enterprise. Measures raised by the employer, employees or union or unions for consideration consistent with the objectives of paragraph (b) hereof shall be processed through that consultative mechanism and procedures.

(d) Measures raised for consideration consistent with paragraph (c) hereof shall be related to implementation of the new classification structure, the facilitative provisions contained in this award and, subject to Clause 30. - Training of this award, matters concerning training and, subject to paragraph (e) hereof, any other measures consistent with the objectives of paragraph (b) of this subclause.

(e) Without limiting the rights of either an employer or a union to arbitration, any other measure designed to increase flexibility at the plant or enterprise and sought by any party shall be notified to the Commission if the initiative varies and Award provision and by agreement of the parties involved shall be subject to the following requirements:

(i) The changes sought shall not affect the provisions reflecting national standards recognised by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

(ii) The majority of employees affected by the change at the plant or enterprise must genuinely agree to the change.

(iii) No employee shall lose income as a result of the change.

(iv) The relevant union or unions must be a party to the agreement.


(v) The relevant union or unions shall not unreasonably oppose any agreement.

(vi) Any agreement shall be subject to approval by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission and, if approved, shall operate as a Schedule to this award or a Section 41 Industrial Agreement and take precedence over any provision of this award to the extent of the inconsistency.

(f) Any disputes arising in relation to the implementation of paragraphs (c) and (d) hereof shall be subject to the provisions of Clause 29. - Avoidance of Industrial Disputes of this award.