State Wage Case Variation Schedule for RET022
Document Type: Direction
Matter Number: A 8/2004
Matter Description: Retail Pharmacists' Award 2004
Industry:
Jurisdiction: Single Commissioner
Member/Magistrate name:
Delivery Date: 5 Aug 2025
Result:
Citation: 2025 WAIRC 00632
WAIG Reference: 105 WAIG 1799
2025 WAIRC 00632
Retail Pharmacists' Award, 2004
4.1 - MINIMUM ADULT AWARD WAGE
4.1.1 No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.
4.1.2 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.
4.1.3 The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.
4.1.4 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.
4.1.5 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.
4.1.6 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.
4.1.7 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.
4.1.8 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.
4.1.9 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.
4.1.10 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.
4.2 - WAGES
4.2.1 Classifications
Award Rate Per Week $
Pharmacist Manager
(a) Grade 3
1678.40
(b) Grade 2
1592.50
(c) Grade 1
1506.30
Pharmacist-in-Charge
(a) Grade 2
1448.90
(b) Grade 1
1420.00
Pharmacist
1339.50
Trainee - First Half of traineeship
1055.10
Trainee - Second Half of traineeship
1139.90
Pharmacy Students
First Year
953.00
Second Year
953.00
Third Year
998.50
Fourth Year
1025.30
Note: Should an adult be employed as a first year student then that employee shall receive no less than the wage prescribed in 4.1.2.
4.2.2 "500 Hour Student" means a person who is undertaking an accredited course of study leading to a degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy and who enters into an Articles of Traineeship with the Pharmacy Council of Western Australia to complete the first 500 hours of the employees' pre-registration training in a Pharmacy prior to satisfying the examination requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy.
The minimum rates of pay for a 38 hour week for a 500 hour Student undertaking the first 500 hours of pre- registration training shall be:
500 hour student 738.40
4.2.3 "Pharmacist-in-Charge Grade 1" means a Pharmacist-in-Charge of more than 10 but not more than 20 other employees.
4.2.4 "Pharmacist-in-Charge Grade 2" means a Pharmacist-in-Charge of more than 20 other employees.
4.2.5 Pharmacist
(a) The registered pharmacist commencement level. A pharmacist is professionally responsible for the dispensing of prescriptions in accordance with the Pharmacy Act.
(b) Duties and responsibilities shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(i) dispensing prescriptions in accordance with the requirements of relevant legislation, counselling patients where necessary, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme return preparation, Dangerous Drugs stock control, cashing up, supervision of supply of scheduled items.
(ii) a pharmacist may in the course of employment be placed in charge of not more than ten other employees and be required to perform such other tasks in a pharmacy as are incidental to being in charge of others, but who shall not be required to perform substantial management tasks.
4.2.6 Pharmacist Manager
(a) A Pharmacist Manager is employed as the pharmacist in control of the business. Pharmacy Managers are totally responsible to the proprietor for all aspects of the business, including rostering of staff, hiring and firing of staff, full business administration and profit and performance, and strategic planning.
(b) Pharmacist Managers will be graded as follows:
(i) Grade 1: Manages a small pharmacy where the equivalent full-time supervised staff (EFTS) is two or less.
(ii) Grade 2: Manages a medium pharmacy where the EFTS is more than two but less than five.
(iii) Grade 3: Manages a large pharmacy where the EFTS is five or more.
(iv) Equivalent Full-Time Supervised Staff is calculated according to the following formula:
a/b = c where:
a =
The total number of hours ordinarily worked by pharmacy assistants in the pharmacy;
b=
The total number of hours the pharmacy ir ordinarily open for business; and
c=
The number of equivalent full-time supervised staff.
4.2.7 Employees shall be classified and graded according to the work level standards and the grading arrangements as set out in 4.2.1.
4.2.8. Where a pharmacist is required, at the direct request of the owner or manager, to be in charge of a shop for a period in excess of four continuous hours in any one day, the employee shall be paid at the rate for the relevant category of pharmacist-in-charge for the period of time so worked.
4.2.9 Hourly rates shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate weekly rate by 38.
4.2.10. Part-time employees
Part-time employees shall be paid an hourly rate calculated on the basis of 4.2.1 and 4.2.9, for the classification involved.
4.2.11 Payment of wages
Payment of wages shall be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly according to the contract of employment, or the work cycle in accordance with 3.1.1, or as otherwise agreed between the employer and the employee.
4.2.12 The rates of wages as set out in 4.2.1 are to be increased by the full arbitrated safety net adjustments.
The rates of pay in this Award include arbitrated safety net adjustments available since December 1993 until the commencement of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2007 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.
Retail Pharmacists' Award, 2004
4.1 - MINIMUM ADULT AWARD WAGE
4.1.1 No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.
4.1.2 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.
4.1.3 The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.
4.1.4 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.
4.1.5 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.
4.1.6 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.
4.1.7 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.
4.1.8 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.
4.1.9 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.
4.1.10 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.
4.2 - WAGES
4.2.1 Classifications
Award Rate Per Week $
Pharmacist Manager
(a) Grade 3
1678.40
(b) Grade 2
1592.50
(c) Grade 1
1506.30
Pharmacist-in-Charge
(a) Grade 2
1448.90
(b) Grade 1
1420.00
Pharmacist
1339.50
Trainee - First Half of traineeship
1055.10
Trainee - Second Half of traineeship
1139.90
Pharmacy Students
First Year
953.00
Second Year
953.00
Third Year
998.50
Fourth Year
1025.30
Note: Should an adult be employed as a first year student then that employee shall receive no less than the wage prescribed in 4.1.2.
4.2.2 "500 Hour Student" means a person who is undertaking an accredited course of study leading to a degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy and who enters into an Articles of Traineeship with the Pharmacy Council of Western Australia to complete the first 500 hours of the employees' pre-registration training in a Pharmacy prior to satisfying the examination requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy.
The minimum rates of pay for a 38 hour week for a 500 hour Student undertaking the first 500 hours of pre- registration training shall be:
500 hour student 738.40
4.2.3 "Pharmacist-in-Charge Grade 1" means a Pharmacist-in-Charge of more than 10 but not more than 20 other employees.
4.2.4 "Pharmacist-in-Charge Grade 2" means a Pharmacist-in-Charge of more than 20 other employees.
4.2.5 Pharmacist
(a) The registered pharmacist commencement level. A pharmacist is professionally responsible for the dispensing of prescriptions in accordance with the Pharmacy Act.
(b) Duties and responsibilities shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(i) dispensing prescriptions in accordance with the requirements of relevant legislation, counselling patients where necessary, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme return preparation, Dangerous Drugs stock control, cashing up, supervision of supply of scheduled items.
(ii) a pharmacist may in the course of employment be placed in charge of not more than ten other employees and be required to perform such other tasks in a pharmacy as are incidental to being in charge of others, but who shall not be required to perform substantial management tasks.
4.2.6 Pharmacist Manager
(a) A Pharmacist Manager is employed as the pharmacist in control of the business. Pharmacy Managers are totally responsible to the proprietor for all aspects of the business, including rostering of staff, hiring and firing of staff, full business administration and profit and performance, and strategic planning.
(b) Pharmacist Managers will be graded as follows:
(i) Grade 1: Manages a small pharmacy where the equivalent full-time supervised staff (EFTS) is two or less.
(ii) Grade 2: Manages a medium pharmacy where the EFTS is more than two but less than five.
(iii) Grade 3: Manages a large pharmacy where the EFTS is five or more.
(iv) Equivalent Full-Time Supervised Staff is calculated according to the following formula:
a/b = c where:
a =
The total number of hours ordinarily worked by pharmacy assistants in the pharmacy;
b=
The total number of hours the pharmacy ir ordinarily open for business; and
c=
The number of equivalent full-time supervised staff.
4.2.7 Employees shall be classified and graded according to the work level standards and the grading arrangements as set out in 4.2.1.
4.2.8. Where a pharmacist is required, at the direct request of the owner or manager, to be in charge of a shop for a period in excess of four continuous hours in any one day, the employee shall be paid at the rate for the relevant category of pharmacist-in-charge for the period of time so worked.
4.2.9 Hourly rates shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate weekly rate by 38.
4.2.10. Part-time employees
Part-time employees shall be paid an hourly rate calculated on the basis of 4.2.1 and 4.2.9, for the classification involved.
4.2.11 Payment of wages
Payment of wages shall be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly according to the contract of employment, or the work cycle in accordance with 3.1.1, or as otherwise agreed between the employer and the employee.
4.2.12 The rates of wages as set out in 4.2.1 are to be increased by the full arbitrated safety net adjustments.
The rates of pay in this Award include arbitrated safety net adjustments available since December 1993 until the commencement of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2007 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.