Aluminium Industry Award

MA000060 covers employers in the Australian aluminium industry and their employees in the listed classifications. It reaches across bauxite operations, processing, refining, smelting, melting, casting and rolling, along with ancillary power and steam generation, bulk materials handling at wharves, and plant servicing and maintenance. If you run an aluminium production or processing operation, this is generally the relevant award. Confirm coverage against the award and the Fair Work Ombudsman, as some staff may fall under other instruments.

The award uses a single ladder of eight grades under the 'Aluminium Worker' designation, running from Grade 1 through Grade 8. Each grade has its own minimum rate, and progression depends on the employee demonstrating the required competencies and being appointed to the higher grade by the employer. Classify each worker by the duties and skills they actually apply, then read the current rate for that grade from the Fair Work Pay Calculator rather than estimating.

MA000060 generally does not cover clerical and administrative staff, managerial and professional roles, head-office workers, or security, catering and cleaning services unless those people are employed directly by the aluminium employer. Those roles are typically covered by other modern awards or by individual arrangements. Where a worker sits across functions, check the duties against the award's coverage clause and confirm the correct instrument with the Fair Work Ombudsman before setting pay.

Always take current rates from the Fair Work Pay Calculator or the MA000060 pay guide rather than memory or an old spreadsheet. Rates differ by grade and by employment type, and they are reviewed annually, rising from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. That means any figure you wrote down last year has a use-by date. Valont keeps these rates current as part of award-compliant payroll for industrial employers.

The award distinguishes continuous shiftwork, which runs without interruption across a 24-hour, seven-day cycle, from non-continuous shiftwork, which does not. The distinction matters because overtime is calculated differently for each: continuous shiftworkers are treated under one set of rules and non-continuous shiftworkers under another. Identify which category each roster falls into, then confirm the relevant overtime and loading rates for that category against the Fair Work source.

Casual employees are paid an hourly rate plus a casual loading in place of the paid leave and other entitlements casuals do not receive. Across modern awards that loading is commonly 25%, and under this award the loading is generally not applied on top of overtime rates. Treat 25% as a guide only, and confirm the exact casual loading and how it interacts with overtime and penalties for MA000060 from the Fair Work source before running pay.

MA000060 provides a work conditions and disability allowance for wet, hot, dusty, confined and similar work, a first aid allowance for appointed qualified first aiders, leading hand allowances that increase with the number of employees supervised, an overtime meal allowance for breaks during overtime, and a tool allowance where employees supply and maintain their own tools. Because each is tied to specific conditions, identify which apply to each role and confirm the current amounts using the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

For ordinary hours worked on shift, MA000060 pays a loading on top of the base rate that depends on the type of shift - afternoon, rotating night or permanent night attract different amounts. These loadings are separate from, and can combine with, weekend and public holiday penalties on a round-the-clock operation. Map each shift's type and timing, then confirm the current loading for that shift band from the Fair Work source rather than applying a single flat figure.

Aluminium production often runs seven days, so Saturday and Sunday work attracts weekend penalties on top of the ordinary rate, and these can stack with shift loadings. As a general guide, weekend penalties across awards commonly run around 25% on Saturday and 50% on Sunday, but MA000060 sets its own rates which differ from that guide. Always confirm what this award actually provides for the relevant day and employment type against the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing pay.

Public holiday entitlements flow from the National Employment Standards and the award. As a guide, public holiday work across awards can attract penalties of up to 150%, but MA000060 sets its own public holiday rate, which may sit above that general guide. Always verify the public holiday rate, and any arrangements for employees who do not work the day, for this award using the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing a pay run that includes a public holiday.

Overtime generally applies to hours worked beyond ordinary or rostered hours. For non-continuous shiftworkers the award sets one rate for the first hours of overtime and a higher rate after that, with separate treatment for Sundays and public holidays, while continuous shiftworkers are dealt with under a different structure. There are also overtime meal and rest break provisions. Identify which hours count as overtime for each worker, and confirm the applicable rate for this award via the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Modern award minimum rates increase following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The 2026 review added 4.75% to modern award minimums. Apply increases from the correct pay period, not the calendar date, and pull the new figures for each grade and allowance from the Fair Work source so aluminium industry pay stays compliant.

The risks with MA000060 sit in the detail: the right grade, the continuous versus non-continuous shiftwork distinction, stacked shift, weekend and public holiday penalties on a 24/7 plant, the industry allowances, and rates refreshed every July. The safest approach is to anchor every figure to the Fair Work Pay Calculator and review pay each 1 July. Valont runs award-compliant payroll for industrial employers, mapping rosters to the correct classifications, allowances and penalties so figures stay current and accurate.