MA000059Meat Processing
Meat Industry Award
Meat Industry Award 2020
Who does this award cover?
The Meat Industry Award covers employees working in meat processing, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat Industry Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.12 |
| Meat Industry Level 2 | $26.44 | $33.05 | $1004.72 |
| Meat Industry Level 3 | $26.60 | $33.25 | $1010.80 |
| Meat Industry Level 4 | $27.23 | $34.04 | $1034.74 |
| Meat Industry Level 5 | $27.71 | $34.64 | $1052.98 |
Get plain-English answers on the Meat Industry Award
Answers grounded on the full MA000059 document — every clause, variation, and classification. Pro is $29.99/mo, cancel anytime.
Penalty rates
How casual overtime is calculated
One of the most common payroll questions under the Meat Industry Award: when a casual works overtime or weekend hours, does the 1.5× or 2× multiplier apply to the base rate, or to the 25%-loaded casual rate? The answer depends on how the award is drafted.
Method for the Meat Industry Award
Unresolved — award drafting is ambiguous or we have not verified
We have not independently verified how this award treats the 25% casual loading when overtime or penalty rates apply. The three possible methods (additive / compounded / separate) can produce materially different pay outcomes. Check the award text at fwc.gov.au or use the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) for a definitive answer.
| Method | Calculation | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Additive | $26.60 × 175% | $46.55 |
| Compounded | $33.25 × 150% | $49.88 |
| Separate | $26.60 × 150% | $39.90 |
Break entitlements
| Shift length | Meal break | Rest break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 hours | — | — | No |
| 5–8 hours | 30 min | — | No |
| 8–10 hours | 30 min | 10 min | Yes |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | Yes |
More on the Meat Industry Award
Meat Industry Award pay rates 2026-27
Every classification, junior and casual rate, penalty table and rate calculator.
Search enterprise agreements
An enterprise agreement replaces the award where one covers your workplace. Search by employer.
Enterprise agreements in meat processing
- Challenge Meats Pty Ltd trading as Challenge Foods and the Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union Collective Agreement 2025
- Retail Ready Operations Meat Processing Agreement 2026
- M.C Herd Pty Ltd and the Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union Collective Agreement 2025
- Big River Pork and AMIEU Meat Processing Enterprise Agreement 2025
- Northern Co-Operative Meat Company Ltd Maintenance and Services Enterprise Agreement 2025
- H.W Greenham & Son Pty Ltd Meat Processing Enterprise Agreement Tongala 2024.
Employer pay guides under the Meat Industry Award
Want the full MA000059 document?
This page covers the headline rates, penalties, and break rules. The full award has dozens more clauses: allowances, overtime formulas, rostering rules, dispute procedures, and classification descriptors. FairWork Mate answers plain-English questions grounded on every clause, with a citation back to the award on every answer.
FairWork Mate AI
Not sure the Meat Industry Award is the award that covers you?
“I think I'm covered by the Meat Industry Award (MA000059). Is that the right award for my job, and what should I be paid?”
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