Cement, Lime and Quarrying Award

It covers employers in the cement and lime industry and the quarrying industry, and their employees in the listed classifications. That includes making, handling and distributing cement, clinker, flyash and lime, working lime and stone quarries, sand and gravel pits, and crushing or screening operations producing recycled materials. Confirm your specific operation against the award coverage clause on the Fair Work website.

Rates are based on classification. Cement and lime work is graded across seven levels (Level 1 to 7) and quarrying work across six grades (Grade 1 to 6), with each step reflecting skill and responsibility. You place each employee in the level or grade matching their main duties, then apply the corresponding minimum rate. Always read the current rate from the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Yes. Modern award minimum rates rise from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July each year following the Annual Wage Review. The 2026 review increased modern award minimums by 4.75%. Dollar-based allowances are usually adjusted too. Update your payroll from the correct pay period and take the exact new figures from the Fair Work source rather than estimating.

Casual employees under this award are commonly paid a loading of 25% on top of the ordinary hourly rate for their classification, in place of paid leave and notice entitlements. Casual overtime and weekend penalties are calculated differently from permanent staff. A minimum engagement also applies per shift. Confirm the current loading and minimum engagement using the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

The award includes an industry (disability) allowance that differs between cement/lime and quarrying work, leading hand and first aid allowances, a vehicle allowance per kilometre, an overtime meal allowance, and travel, board and lodging payments. Employers also supply protective clothing and safety footwear. Several allowances are all-purpose. Check the current dollar values for each on the Fair Work source, as they change annually.

An all-purpose allowance, such as the industry allowance, is added to the base rate before overtime, penalties and leave loading are calculated, rather than being a flat extra on top. That means it inflates the rate used across many other entitlements. Misclassifying it as a standalone payment is a frequent source of underpayment. Verify which allowances are all-purpose in the award text on Fair Work.

Weekend work attracts penalty rates above the ordinary rate. As a general guide, Saturday is commonly around 25% and Sunday commonly around 50%, but this award sets several Saturday and Sunday shifts higher and treats quarrying and cement/lime differently. Casual rates differ again. Because the exact multipliers vary by industry and engagement, confirm each one against the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing pay.

Overtime is paid at penalty rates that step up the longer it runs and are higher on weekends, with separate (higher) calculations for casuals. An overtime meal allowance can also apply when employees work beyond their ordinary finishing time. The exact multipliers and the trigger for the meal allowance differ between cement/lime and quarrying work, so always read the current overtime provisions and figures from the Fair Work source.

Yes. Employees working afternoon, night or permanent night shifts receive shift loadings on top of their ordinary rate, with higher loadings for casual shiftworkers. Rosters generally require advance notice and minimum breaks between shifts. Shiftworkers may also receive additional annual leave. The precise loadings and break rules are set in the award, so confirm them and the current percentages via Fair Work before rostering.

Annual leave loading under this award is 17.5% on the relevant rate of pay, or the shift penalties the employee would otherwise have received for the period, whichever is greater. Eligible shiftworkers may also accrue an extra week of annual leave each year. To apply this correctly you need the right base rate including any all-purpose allowances, so confirm the calculation inputs against the Fair Work source.

Ordinary hours average 38 per week, worked within a defined daytime span that differs slightly between the cement/lime and quarrying industries, with a daily maximum on ordinary hours. Work outside the span or beyond the daily limit generally becomes overtime. Because the exact span times and daily caps are set in the award and vary by industry, confirm them in the current award text on the Fair Work website.

Yes. Part-time employees work regular, agreed hours under 38 per week and are entitled to minimum consecutive hours each time they are engaged, with their pattern of work agreed in advance. Changing their agreed hours or rostering them below the minimum engagement can breach the award. Check the current minimum engagement and the rules for agreeing and varying part-time hours in the award via Fair Work.

The reliable approach is to classify each employee correctly, apply the right all-purpose allowances and penalties for their industry and engagement type, and refresh rates from the first full pay period each July using the Fair Work figures. Many operators outsource this. Valont runs award-compliant payroll for SMEs, mapping classifications, allowances and penalties to the current Fair Work rates so your business stays accurate as the award changes.