Meat Industry Award Penalty Rates
All penalty rates under the Meat Industry Award 2020 (MA000059) for 2025-26, including weekends, public holidays, evening, and overtime.
Meat Industry Award — Key Rates at a Glance
Saturday
$38.61/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$51.48/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$64.35/hr
2.5x base
Afternoon Shift
$29.60/hr
1.15x base
Night Shift
$33.46/hr
1.3x base
Overtime (first 2 hours)
$38.61/hr
1.5x base
Overtime (after 2 hours)
$51.48/hr
2x base
Rates shown for Level 1 ($25.74/hr base). See full table below for all levels.
Full Penalty Rate Table — Meat Industry Award
| Level | Base Rate | Saturday 1.5x | Sunday 2x | Public Holiday 2.5x | Afternoon Shift 1.15x | Night Shift 1.3x | Overtime 1.5x | Overtime 2x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $25.74/hr | $38.61/hr | $51.48/hr | $64.35/hr | $29.60/hr | $33.46/hr | $38.61/hr | $51.48/hr |
| Level 2 | $26.44/hr | $39.66/hr | $52.88/hr | $66.10/hr | $30.41/hr | $34.37/hr | $39.66/hr | $52.88/hr |
| Level 3 | $26.60/hr | $39.90/hr | $53.20/hr | $66.50/hr | $30.59/hr | $34.58/hr | $39.90/hr | $53.20/hr |
| Level 4 | $27.23/hr | $40.85/hr | $54.46/hr | $68.08/hr | $31.31/hr | $35.40/hr | $40.85/hr | $54.46/hr |
| Level 5 | $27.71/hr | $41.57/hr | $55.42/hr | $69.28/hr | $31.87/hr | $36.02/hr | $41.57/hr | $55.42/hr |
Compare Penalty Rates Across Awards (Level 1)
| Award | Base Rate | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat Industry Award | $25.74/hr | $51.48/hr (2x) | $64.35/hr (2.5x) |
| Hospitality Award | $26.44/hr | $39.66/hr (1.5x) | $59.49/hr (2.25x) |
| Retail Award | $27.81/hr | $41.71/hr (1.5x) | $62.57/hr (2.25x) |
| Clerks Award | $26.97/hr | $53.94/hr (2x) | $67.43/hr (2.5x) |
| Building Award | $26.67/hr | $53.34/hr (2x) | $66.68/hr (2.5x) |
Calculate Your Exact Penalty Rate
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the penalty rates under the Meat Industry Award?
The Meat Industry Award (MA000059) provides penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday, Afternoon Shift, Night Shift, Overtime (first 2 hours), Overtime (after 2 hours). Percentage rates range from 1.15x to 2.5x of the base hourly rate.
What is the Sunday penalty rate for meat processing workers?
Under the Meat Industry Award, permanent employees receive 2x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee at $25.74/hr, this means $51.48/hr on Sundays.
What is the public holiday rate under the Meat Industry Award?
Public holiday work under the Meat Industry Award is paid at 2.5x the base rate. For Level 1, that's $64.35/hr.
Who is covered by the Meat Industry Award?
The Meat Industry Award covers employees in the meat processing industry. Common job titles include Meat worker, Butcher, Boner, Slicer, Meat packer, Abattoir worker, Smallgoods maker.
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