Industrial Relations Update | July 2025
WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING ON 1ST JULY 2025?
- AWARD CHANGES
This week the Fair Work Commission (“FWC”) announced the details of the changes to the Pastoral Award 2020 to come into effect on the first full pay period commencing on or after 1st July 2025.
The following clause changes in the Pastoral Award 2020 include:
15 — National training wage
18 — Allowances
32 — Minimum rates
33 — Special allowances
37 — Minimum rates
43 — Overtime
47 — Minimum rates
51 — Minimum rates
52 — Special allowances (other than Woolclassers and Shearing shed experts)
Schedule A —Shearing Operations—Methods for calculating Minimum Rates
Schedule B —Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay
Schedule C —Summary of Monetary Allowances
Schedule D —Supported Wage System
- MINIMUM WAGE ADJUSTMENT 2025/26
The Minimum Wage Adjustment has increased Award Rates by 3.5% effective from first pay period commencing on or after 1st July 2025.
The new wage rates and allowances appear in ATTACHMENT A of this Update.
SUPERANNUATION GUARANTEE CONTRIBUTION (“SGC”)
On the first full pay period commencing on or after 1st July 2025, the employers’ contribution for employees will be increased from 11.5% to 12%.
This will be the final increase in SGC. However, The Financial Services Minister apparently asked Treasury 3 years ago to investigate “pathways” to raise to 15%. Time will tell.
UNFAIR DISMISSAL CLAIMS AND THRESH HOLD
Small employers (less than 15 employees including casuals) are free from unfair dismissal claims for the first 12 months of employment. Larger employers are immune for first 12 months.
Employees, however, can lodge claims for adverse action. Such claims can include among other things termination of employment.
The Fair Work Commission can only hear claims when the wage rate is less than $175,000 pa but from 1st July 2025 this thresh hold will increase to $183,100 pa.
The maximum compensation for a successful unfair dismissal claim will remain at 6 months, but the amount of compensation will increase from $87,500 to $91,550 from 1st July 2025.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS UPDATE.
ATTACHMENT A- Wage Rates
ATTACHMENT B - Ordinary hours of work and rostering
ATTACHMENT C - OVERTIME AND PENALTY RATES
ATTACHMENT D CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYMENT
Click here to view attachments.
Members’ Industrial Relations Advice
Livestock SA members are entitled to contact MERS for a free half hour consultation, per member per year. Our telephone number is 08 8331 2422 and email chas@mers.com.au