2025 WAIRC 00606
Particle Board Industry Award No. 10 of 1978

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.




SCHEDULE I - RATES OF PAY

PARTICLE BOARD INDUSTRY AWARD (S.W.L.D.) NO. 10 OF 1978

The minimum rates of wage payable to employees covered by this award shall be as follows:

(1)
(a) GRADE





BASE RATEPER WEEK$
ASNA$
TOTAL






Grade 1
346.45
581.25
927.70

Trainee Operator, Packing Cleaner, Factory/Yard Hand.









Grade 2
354.35
583.65
938.00

Flaker/Knife Room Operator, Overlay Operator, Log Deck Operator, Glue Mixer Melamine Forklift









Grade 3
366.85
587.25
954.10

Flooring and Grading Operator, Storeperson, Log Deck Loader, Paper Impregnation Operator, Log Tower Operator, Packaging Forklift









Grade 4
380.70
591.10
971.80

Laboratory Assistant, Despatch Forklift, Logyard Loader, Panel Saw Operator, Sanding and Grading Operator.









Grade 5
392.65
594.45
987.10

Drier Operator, Despatcher, Forming Machine Operator, Relief Operator, Press Operator, Resin Plant Operator.









Grade 6
438.00
607.60
1045.60

Senior Melamine Operator, Senior Finishing Operator, Senior Shift Operator, Quality Control Officer.








(2)
Driver of Motor Vehicles




(a) Not exceeding 25 cwt capacity
355.10
583.80
938.90

(b) Exceeding 25 cwt but under 3 tons
358.20
584.50
942.70

(c) Exceeding 3 tons but under 6 tons
362.25
586.05
948.30

(d) Exceeding 6 tons but under 7 tons
362.95
586.15
949.10

(e) Exceeding 7 tons but under 8 tons
365.05
586.55
951.60

(f) Exceeding 8 tons but under 9 tons
365.35
586.75
952.10

(g) Exceeding 9 tons but under 10 tons
366.00
586.90
952.90

(h) Exceeding 10 tons but under 11 tons
366.65
587.25
953.90

(i) Exceeding 11 tons but under 12 tons
367.80
587.40
955.20

(j) Exceeding 12 tons but under 13 tons
368.75
587.75
956.50

(k) Exceeding 13 tons but under 14 tons
369.70
588.00
957.70

(l) Exceeding 14 tons but under 15 tons
360.65
585.35
946.00

(m) Exceeding 15 tons but under 16 tons
371.40
588.50
959.90

(n) Exceeding 16 tons but under 17 tons
371.70
588.50
960.20

(o) Exceeding 17 tons but under 18 tons
372.45
588.65
961.10

(p) Exceeding 18 tons but under 19 tons
373.40
589.10
962.50

(q) Exceeding 19 tons but under 20 tons
374.20
589.10
963.30

(r) Exceeding 20 tons but under 21 tons
375.25
589.55
964.80

(s) Exceeding 21 tons but under 22 tons
376.20
589.90
966.10

(t) Exceeding 22 tons but under 23 tons
376.70
590.00
966.70

(u) Exceeding 23 tons and over........
377.10
590.20
967.30






(v) Driver of a Motor Vehicle (not being a tractor) drawing a trailer:

(aa) For a loader single-axle trailer $1.60 per day extra

(bb) For an empty single-axle trailer $1.95 per day extra

(cc) For any other empty trailer $1.10 per day extra.



(w) An employee who in the course of his/her employment drives a vehicle with self-loading equipment which requires the possession of a certificate of competency paid an extra $10.40 per week.




BASE RATEPER WEEK$
ASNA$
TOTAL$
(3)
Driver of Articulated Vehicles:




(a) Not exceeding 9 tons capacity
370.10
588.00
958.10

(b) 9 tons and over but under 10 tons
371.30
588.50
959.80

(c) 10 tons and over but under 11 tons
371.60
588.50
960.10

(d) 11 tons and over but under 12 tons
372.20
588.60
960.80

(e) 12 tons and over but under 13 tons
372.55
588.65
961.20

(f) 13 tons and over but under 14 tons
373.60
589.10
962.70

(g) 14 tons and over but under 15 tons
375.00
589.50
964.50

(h) 15 tons and over but under 16 tons
375.40
589.50
964.90

(i) 16 tons and over but under 17 tons
376.30
589.90
966.20

(j) 17 tons and over but under 18 tons
377.00
590.20
967.20

(k) 18 tons and over but under 19 tons
378.20
590.30
968.50

(l) 19 tons and over but under 20 tons
379.00
590.30
969.30

(m) 20 tons and over but under 21 tons
379.50
590.80
970.30

(n) 21 tons and over but under 22 tons
380.30
591.10
971.40

(o) 22 tons and over but under 23 tons
381.40
591.40
972.80

(p) 23 tons and over but under 24 tons
382.30
591.50
973.80

(q) 24 tons and over but under 25 tons
382.90
591.70
974.60

(r) 25 tons and over but under 26 tons
383.30
591.70
975.00

(s) 26 tons and over but under 27 tons
384.15
592.05
976.20

(t) 27 tons and over but under 28 tons
385.25
592.35
977.60

(u) 28 tons and over but under 29 tons
385.85
592.75
978.60

(v) 29 tons and over but under 30 tons
386.60
592.80
979.40

(w) 30 tons and over but under 31 tons
387.45
592.95
980.40

(x) 31 tons and over but under 32 tons
388.50
593.30
981.80

(y) 32 tons and over but under 33 tons
389.55
593.75
983.30

(z) 33 tons and over but under 34 tons
389.85
593.85
983.70

(aa) 34 tons and over but under 35 tons
390.60
593.90
984.50

(ab) 35 tons and over but under 36 tons
391.65
594.35
986.00

(ac) 36 tons and over but under 37 tons
392.85
594.65
987.50

(ad) 37 tons and over but under 38 tons
393.55
594.65
988.20

(ae) 38 tons and over but under 39 tons
394.20
595.00
989.20

(af) 39 tons and over but under 40 tons
395.50
595.20
990.70

(ag) 40 tons and over but under 41 tons
396.40
595.70
992.10

(ah) 41 tons and over but under 42 tons
397.05
595.75
992.80

(ai) 42 tons and over but under 43 tons
398.10
596.00
994.10

(aj) 43 tons and over but under 44 tons
399.20
596.30
995.50

(ak) 44 tons and over but under 45 tons
399.90
596.60
996.50

(al) 45 tons and over but under 46 tons
400.70
596.80
997.50

(am) 46 tons and over but under 47 tons
401.70
597.00
998.70

(an) 47 tons and over but under 48 tons
402.75
597.45
1000.20

(ao) 48 tons and over but under 49 tons
403.60
597.70
1001.30

(ap) 49 tons and over but under 50 tons
404.30
597.70
1002.00

(aq) 50 tons and over but under 51 tons
405.40
598.00
1003.40

(ar) 51 tons and over but under 52 tons
406.35
598.55
1004.90

(as) 52 tons and over but under 53 tons
407.20
598.70
1005.90

(at) 53 tons and over but under 54 tons
408.05
598.95
1007.00

(au) 54 tons and over but under 55 tons
409.05
599.05
1008.10

(av) 55 tons and over.................
409.95
599.45
1009.40





(4)
Driver of Double Articulated Vehicle or Road Train:




(a) Not exceeding 31 tons capacity
392.50
594.40
986.90

(b) 31 tons and over but under 32 tons
392.95
594.65
987.60

(c) 32 tons and over but under 33 tons
393.65
594.65
988.30

(d) 33 tons and over but under 34 tons
394.30
595.00
989.30

(e) 34 tons and over but under 35 tons
395.25
595.25
990.50

(f) 35 tons and over but under 36 tons
395.70
595.20
990.90

(g) 36 tons and over but under 37 tons
396.60
595.70
992.30

(h) 37 tons and over but under 38 tons
397.25
595.75
993.00

(i) 38 tons and over but under 39 tons
397.80
595.90
993.70

(j) 39 tons and over but under 40 tons
399.30
596.30
995.60

(k) 40 tons and over but under 41 tons
400.10
596.70
996.80

(l) 41 tons and over but under 42 tons
400.70
596.80
997.50

(m) 42 tons and over but under 43 tons
401.70
597.00
998.70

(n) 43 tons and over but under 44 tons
402.50
597.20
999.70

(o) 44 tons and over but under 45 tons
403.10
597.70
1000.80

(p) 45 tons and over but under 46 tons
403.90
597.70
1001.60

(q) 46 tons and over but under 47 tons
405.10
598.00
1003.10

(r) 47 tons and over but under 48 tons
405.40
598.00
1003.40

(s) 48 tons and over but under 49 tons
406.25
598.25
1004.50

(t) 49 tons and over but under 50 tons
407.20
598.70
1005.90

(u) 50 tons and over but under 51 tons
407.90
598.90
1006.80

(v) 51 tons and over but under 52 tons
408.45
598.95
1007.40

(w) 52 tons and over but under 53 tons
409.40
599.40
1008.80

(x) 53 tons and over but under 54 tons
410.25
599.55
1009.80

(y) 54 tons and over but under 55 tons
410.95
599.65
1010.60

(z) 55 tons and over.................
411.85
599.95
1011.80





(5)
Tow Motor Operator.....................
349.75
582.35
932.10





(6)
Driver of Logging Tractor..............
355.00
583.80
938.80





(7)
Crane or Fork Lift Assistant...........
330.95
577.05
908.00






(8) JUNIOR EMPLOYEES:

In addition to such amounts as may be prescribed by subclause (2) of Clause 7. - Junior Employees, junior employees shall receive the following percentage of a Particle Board Employee Grade 1 wage rate:

Between 16 and 17 years of age
45%
Between 17 and 18 years of age
55%

(9) LEADING HANDS:

(a) Any employee placed by the employer in charge of not less than three and not more than ten other employees shall be paid $17.30 per week extra.

(b) Any employee placed by the employer in charge of more than ten other employees shall be paid $26.10 per week extra.

(10) SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS:

(a) In addition to the Base Rate Per Week prescribed in this schedule, all adult employees shall be paid a supplementary payment of $39.90 per week for all purposes of this award.

(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.


(11) CALCULATION OF WAGE RATES - STATE WAGE CASE DECISIONS:

In circumstances where award wages are to be increased as a result of State Wage Case Decisions, unless otherwise specified in such decisions the amount of the increase shall be calculated and applied to this Schedule as follows:

(a) Where the State Wage Case Decision provides that Award wages be increased by a flat amount, that amount shall be applied to the Base Rate only.

(b) Where the State Wage Case Decision provides that Award wages be increased by a percentage amount, that amount shall be applied to that Base Rate and Supplementary Payment.

Such a percentage increase shall also apply to the Leading Hand Allowances, the Special Payment and the Disability Allowances.

(c) In the instances outlined in paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof the new wage rate shall be calculated by adding the Base Rate and the Supplementary Payment.

(d) Where the State Wage Case Decision provides for a plateau formula (that is, a combination of a percentage increase and a flat money amount), the plateau level shall be determined by reference to the Base Rate and the Award Rate and the Supplementary Payment shall be calculated by subtracting the Base Rate from the Award Rate.