Factory Worker Christmas Day Pay Rate 2026

A factory worker working on christmas day earns $61.83 per hour under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020. This is 2.5x the base rate of $24.73/hr, which is 150% more than the ordinary weekday rate. Casual factory workers earn $77.28/hr (2.5x their casual rate of $30.91/hr).

The christmas day penalty rate for factory workers is 2.5x the base hourly rate under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010). For a Level 1 factory worker, this means $61.83/hr instead of $24.73/hr. The penalty rate compensates employees for working during unsociable hours.

Yes. Casual factory workers receive penalty rates on christmas day. The 2.5x penalty multiplier is applied to the casual rate of $30.91/hr (which already includes 25% casual loading), giving a total of $77.28/hr. Casual employees receive both their loading and the penalty rate.

Under the Fair Work Act, an employer can request you to work on christmas day, but you can refuse if the request is unreasonable. Factors include: the nature of the workplace, your personal circumstances including family responsibilities, whether you could reasonably expect the request, and the amount of notice given. If you do work, you must be paid 2.5x your base rate.