Theo ManningThe Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010) is one of the most significant Modern Awards in Australia, covering a broad range of workers across the manufacturing sector — from entry-level process workers to professional engineers and scientists. If you work in a factory, on a production line, in a warehouse, or in a technical engineering role under a manufacturing employer, this award most likely sets the floor for your pay and conditions.
Who Does the Manufacturing Award Cover?
The Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 applies to employers in the manufacturing industry and their employees who are covered by the award's scope. It applies to:
- Production and process workers (factory hands, machine operators, assembly line workers)
- Warehouse and stores employees (including forklift operators and storepersons)
- Tradespeople (boilermakers, welders, fitters, turners, toolmakers, CNC machinists)
- Technical and engineering employees (engineering associates, draughtspersons, technical designers)
- Professional engineers and scientists working within manufacturing enterprises
The award does not apply to employees who are covered by another Modern Award or enterprise agreement. If you have an enterprise agreement in place, its terms apply instead — provided they meet the National Employment Standards (NES) minimums set out in the Fair Work Act 2009.
Pay Structure and Classification Levels
Every employee covered by the Manufacturing Award must be classified into one of 14 classification levels — C14 (lowest/entry-level) through to C1 (highest/professional). Your classification is determined by your actual duties and skills, not your job title. Employers must classify employees correctly and pay at least the minimum rate for their level.
Minimum Hourly Rates — Effective 1 July 2025
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) increased Manufacturing Award wages by 3.75% from 1 July 2025 following the Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
| Classification | Typical Role | Hourly Rate (AUD) | Weekly Rate (38 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C14 | Entry-level factory hand / process worker | $24.28 | $922.60 |
| C13 | Factory hand (experienced) | $24.95 | $948.10 |
| C12 | Machine operator (general) | $25.85 | $982.30 |
| C11 | Machine operator (specialist) | $26.70 | $1,014.60 |
| C10 | Skilled operator / storeperson / forklift | $28.12 | $1,068.60 |
| C9 | Production team leader / advanced operator | $29.00 | $1,102.00 |
| C8 | CNC operator / advanced tradesperson | $29.88 | $1,135.40 |
| C7 | Trade Certificate level | $30.63 | $1,163.90 |
| C6 | Advanced tradesperson | $32.23 | $1,224.70 |
| C5 | Engineering / Technical Level 1 | $32.90 | $1,250.20 |
| C4 | Engineering / Technical Level 2 | $33.78 | $1,283.60 |
| C3 | Engineering associate / technical designer | $35.55 | $1,350.90 |
| C2(a) | Professional (diploma/degree) | $36.43 | $1,384.30 |
| C2(b) | Professional advanced | $37.50 | $1,425.00 |
| C1 | Professional engineer / scientist | $38.03 | $1,445.10 |
Source: Fair Work Commission, Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010). Effective 1 July 2025. All figures in AUD.
Always verify current rates using the official FWO Pay and Conditions Tool or the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for MA000010.
Working Hours, Overtime and Penalty Rates
Ordinary Hours
Full-time employees under the Manufacturing Award work a maximum of 38 ordinary hours per week. Hours can be averaged over a roster cycle up to four weeks.
Overtime
When employees work beyond ordinary hours, they must be paid:
- First 3 hours of overtime: 150% of the ordinary hourly rate (time and a half)
- Overtime after 3 hours: 200% of the ordinary rate (double time)
Shift Penalties
Many manufacturing operations run multiple shifts. Shift allowances under the award are:
- Afternoon shift (regular shift finishing after 6:00 pm and at or before midnight): 15% loading above ordinary rate
- Permanent night shift (regular night shift): 30% loading above ordinary rate
Weekend and Public Holiday Rates
- Saturday: 150% of ordinary rate (time and a half)
- Sunday: 200% of ordinary rate (double time)
- Public holidays: 250% of ordinary rate (double time and a half), minimum 3 hours
Casual Loading
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of their ordinary hourly rate, compensating for the lack of paid leave, notice periods, and redundancy entitlements. A casual C14 employee, for example, earns AUD $30.35/hr under the 2025-26 rates.
Annual Leave
NES Minimum Entitlement (Fair Work Act 2009, s.87)
Full-time employees are entitled to 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year, accruing progressively throughout the year.
Shiftworkers who regularly work on Sundays and public holidays are entitled to 5 weeks of paid annual leave under the Manufacturing Award.
Annual Leave Loading
Under the Manufacturing Award, employees receive annual leave loading equal to the greater of:
- 17.5% of their ordinary rate of pay during the leave period; or
- The shift/weekend penalty rates they would have received had they actually been working on those days.
This means that for workers regularly on afternoon or night shifts, the leave loading may exceed 17.5%.
Cashing Out Annual Leave
Annual leave may be cashed out by written agreement, subject to NES conditions: at least 4 weeks of accrued leave must remain after any cash-out, and payment must not be less than what would have been received for taking the leave.
Notice Periods (Fair Work Act 2009, s.117)
The NES sets minimum notice periods for employer-initiated termination. The Manufacturing Award does not provide notice periods above the NES minimum.
| Years of continuous service | Minimum notice |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 1 week |
| 1 year to less than 3 years | 2 weeks |
| 3 years to less than 5 years | 3 weeks |
| 5 years or more | 4 weeks |
| Over 45 years of age with 2+ years service | +1 week supplement |
Payment in lieu of notice is permitted — the employer may pay out the notice period rather than require the employee to work it out.
For employee resignations, the same NES scale applies as a minimum.
Redundancy Pay (Fair Work Act 2009, Schedule 4, s.119)
Genuine redundancy pay under the NES is calculated based on years of continuous service:
| Years of continuous service | Weeks of redundancy pay |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 4 weeks |
| 2 years | 6 weeks |
| 3 years | 7 weeks |
| 4 years | 8 weeks |
| 5 years | 10 weeks |
| 6 years | 11 weeks |
| 7 years | 13 weeks |
| 8 years | 14 weeks |
| 9 years | 16 weeks |
| 10 years or more | 12 weeks (capped) |
Small business employers (fewer than 15 employees) are exempt from paying NES redundancy pay under s.121 of the Fair Work Act 2009.
Redundancy pay tax treatment: Genuine redundancy payments receive concessional tax treatment under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. A tax-free amount applies (base amount of AUD $12,524 plus AUD $6,264 for each completed year of service for 2025-26). Amounts above the tax-free component are taxed as employment termination payments (ETPs) at concessional rates.
The Manufacturing Award does not provide redundancy entitlements above the NES statutory minimum.
Superannuation
From 1 July 2025, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992. Your employer must pay this contribution into a complying superannuation fund.
Choice of super fund: Under s.149A of the Fair Work Act 2009, employees may choose their own complying super fund. Your employer must pay into your chosen fund once notified.
The Manufacturing Award does not specify super provisions above the statutory SG rate. The standard 12% SG applies to all employees covered by the award.
Key Allowances
The Manufacturing Award provides various allowances on top of minimum rates. Some of the most common:
| Allowance | Rate (AUD) | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Tool allowance (tradesperson) | $0.47/hour | Employee supplies own tools |
| Meal allowance | $18.38/occasion | Overtime without prior notice, meal not provided |
| Leading hand (3–10 workers) | $46.76/week | Supervising 3–10 workers |
| Leading hand (11–20 workers) | $68.16/week | Supervising 11–20 workers |
| Leading hand (21+ workers) | $88.92/week | Supervising 21 or more workers |
| First aid allowance | $21.26/week | Holder of first-aid qualification, responsible for first aid |
Allowance rates are adjusted periodically. Check the current Award or FWO pay guide for up-to-date values.
State and Territory Variations
The Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 is a federal Modern Award — the pay rates and NES entitlements apply uniformly in all states and territories. However, several entitlements are governed by state/territory law and differ across jurisdictions:
Long Service Leave
Long service leave entitlements vary significantly by state and territory:
| State / Territory | Qualifying period | Entitlement | Key legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 10 years | 2 months (approx. 8.667 weeks) | Long Service Leave Act 1955 |
| Victoria | 7 years | 6.067 weeks; pro-rata after 7 years | Long Service Leave Act 2018 |
| Queensland | 10 years | 8.667 weeks | Industrial Relations Act 2016, s.94 |
| South Australia | 10 years | 13 weeks | Long Service Leave Act 1987 |
| Western Australia | 10 years | 8.667 weeks | Long Service Leave Act 1958 |
| Tasmania | 10 years | 8.667 weeks | Long Service Leave Act 1976 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 7 years | 6.067 weeks | Long Service Leave Act 1976 |
| Northern Territory | 10 years | 13 weeks | Long Service Leave Act 1981 |
Use the Long Service Leave tab in the calculator above to estimate your entitlement in your state or territory.
State Public Holidays
In addition to federal public holidays (New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, King's Birthday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day), each state has additional public holidays:
- Victoria: Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November)
- Queensland: EKKA Show Day (Brisbane)
- South Australia: Adelaide Cup Race Day
- Western Australia: Foundation Day (first Monday in June)
- Tasmania: Eight Hours Day (second Monday in March)
Manufacturing employees are entitled to these additional state public holidays at award penalty rates (250% for day workers).
Workers Compensation
Workers compensation is state-administered. If you are injured at work, the applicable scheme depends on your state: icare (NSW), WorkSafe (VIC), WorkCover (QLD), ReturnToWork SA, WorkCover (WA), WorkCover (TAS), WorkSafe (ACT), NT WorkSafe.
Your Rights at Work
Unfair Dismissal (Fair Work Act 2009, s.382)
If you have been employed for at least 6 months (or 12 months for small business employees), you may apply to the Fair Work Commission for an unfair dismissal remedy if your employment is terminated and you believe the dismissal was harsh, unjust or unreasonable.
General Protections (Fair Work Act 2009, Part 3-1)
You are protected from adverse action (including dismissal, demotion, or reduction in pay) for exercising a workplace right — such as making a complaint, taking sick leave, or joining a union.
Right of Entry
Union officials with an entry permit may enter your workplace to hold discussions with union members or investigate suspected Award breaches.
Dispute Resolution
If you believe your employer is not meeting Manufacturing Award requirements, you can:
- Raise it directly with your employer or HR
- Contact your union (the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) or AWU represent many manufacturing workers)
- Lodge a complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman: 13 13 94
- Apply to the Fair Work Commission for a dispute resolution order
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For questions about your specific employment situation, contact your union, the Fair Work Ombudsman (1300 724 690) or a qualified employment lawyer.
