Meat Industry Award
Meat Industry Award 2020
Ask FairWork Mate AI about the Meat Industry Award
Plain-English answers grounded on the full MA000059 document — every clause, variation, and classification. From $499/mo (50% off first month).
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 | $24.28 | $30.35 | $922.64 |
| Meat Industry Level 2 | $24.93 | $31.16 | $947.34 |
| Meat Industry Level 3 | $25.97 | $32.46 | $986.86 |
| Meat Industry Level 4 | $27.10 | $33.88 | $1029.80 |
| Meat Industry Level 5 | $28.35 | $35.44 | $1077.30 |
Rates shown are hourly permanent (base) and casual (base + 25% loading). Always verify with the official FWC document — rates change annually on 1 July following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review.
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
Source: — · Inferred from industry pay guides — verify edge cases via FWO PACT
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 | $25.97 × 175% | $45.45 |
| Compounded | $32.46 × 150% | $48.69 |
| Separate | $25.97 × 150% | $38.96 |
Worked example: casual Level 3 (base $25.97/hr), first block of overtime at 150%. Different awards produce different hourly rates from the same base because the 25% loading is applied differently.
Calculate casual overtime for any scenario →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 |
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 AI answers plain-English questions grounded on every clause. The Business API returns structured data for payroll and HR systems.
Question about the Meat Industry Award?
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