2025 WAIRC 00588
Mineral Sands Industry Award 1991

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.



13. - WAGES

(1) (a) Mineral Sands Employee:


Base Rate$
SupplementaryPaymentPer Week$
MinimumRate$
ArbitratedSafety NetAdjustment$
Total Wage$

Level 1
292.20
96.40
388.60
624.10
1012.70
Level 2
310.50
102.40
412.90
631.00
1043.90
Level 3
328.80
108.40
437.20
645.50
1082.70
Level 4
347.00
114.50
461.50
654.90
1116.40
Level 5
365.20
120.50
485.70
661.00
1146.70
Level 6
383.40
126.60
510.00
670.40
1180.40
Level 7
401.70
132.60
534.30
679.30
1213.60
Level 8
419.90
138.70
558.60
688.50
1247.10
Level 9
438.30
144.60
582.90
697.70
1280.60
Level 10
456.50
150.70
607.20
706.80
1314.00







(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.

(c) The relativities between the respective levels are determined by reference to the Minimum Rate (i.e. Base Rate plus Supplementary Payment).

(2) Employees employed within the structure/levels within this clause shall perform work to the level of their competence in accordance with the definitions and training programmes set out in Clauses 17. - Definitions and 26. - Implementation/Training, of this award. Agreed levels of training for each classification shall be established by the parties and will lead to employees being utilised to carry out any work within their skills and abilities safely and satisfactorily and subject at all times to any relevant statutory requirement as to licensing, training or other certification.

(3) APPRENTICES (wage per week expressed as a percentage of the tradesperson's rate)

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
Next year
75
Final year
88


Three year term -



First year
55
Second year
75
Third year
88


For the purposes of this subclause "tradesperson's rate" means the weekly wage rate for Level 5 in this clause. Provided, however, in the case of a person who, at the commencement of an apprenticeship is over the age of 21 years such person shall be paid not less than a Level 3.

(4) JUNIOR EMPLOYEES

(a) Employees under the age of 18 years shall only be employed in accordance with the provisions of the Mines Regulations Act and Regulations.

(b) Employees under 18 years of age shall be paid 65% of the appropriate adult rate.

(c) Employees at 18 years of age shall be paid the appropriate adult rate.

(5) (a) Leading Hand - General

A leading hand is an employee who receives some supervision and in turn, assists and co-ordinates the work of other employees, who is appointed as such and who can exercise a limited discretion in making decisions, conducting of work, and matters affecting safety. Rate per week - $21.20.

(b) Leading Hand - Shift Supervisor (Westralian Sands Only)

Is fully responsible for plant and site operations and who ensures compliance with safety standard rules as required in the Mines Regulations Act and/or by the Quarry or Registered Mine Manager in the absence of salaried staff. Rate per week $69.20

(6) Tool Allowance

(a) (i) Where an employer does not provide a tradesperson with the tools ordinarily required by that tradesperson the employer shall pay a tool allowance of $12.10 per week to such tradesperson for the purpose of such tradesperson supplying, maintaining and insuring tools ordinarily required in the performance of the employee's work as a tradesperson.

(ii) The list of basic tools tradespersons are required to supply is as agreed at an enterprise level. Any additional tools shall be supplied by the employer.

(b) (i) The employer shall supply an apprentice with a basic apprentice tool kit upon engagement in lieu of a tool allowance being paid during the apprentice's first year of employment.

(ii) The basic apprentice tool kit supplied to an apprentice shall be appropriate to the trade(s) of the apprentice and the content shall be agreed at an enterprise level.

(iii) An apprentice who has completed one full year of employment shall be paid an allowance in the employee's second and subsequent years of employment. The allowance paid to an apprentice shall be a percentage of the rate paid to a tradesperson being the percentage which appears against the employee's year of apprenticeship in subclause (3) of this clause.

(iv) The allowance paid to an apprentice is for the purpose of the apprentice supplementing, maintaining, and insuring tools ordinarily required in the performance of the employee's work as an apprentice.

(7) Construction Allowance Per Week

The amount of $20.70 to be paid to an employee when engaged on any work directly related to major capital expenditure in connection with the construction/demolition of plant. This allowance is paid in recognition of special disabilities and conditions that are not normally associated with plant maintenance and operations. Such construction work will be as agreed between the employer and the union or unions concerned or, in the event of disagreement, the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission declares to be construction work for the purpose of this award.

(8) Casual Employees

A casual employee shall be paid 20 per cent in addition to the appropriate weekly rate.