Cleaning Services Award

If you run a contract cleaning business or engage cleaners on a contract basis, the Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022) almost always applies. It covers cleaning of offices, buildings and events, hygiene and pollution control, and related work. A different award may apply only where cleaning is genuinely incidental to another industry. When in doubt, check coverage on the Fair Work website before setting pay.

The Cleaning Services Award has three classification levels, Level 1 through Level 3. Level 1 covers basic cleaning duties, while Level 2 and Level 3 reflect greater skill, responsibility or supervision. You must classify each employee by the actual work they do, not their job title. The minimum rate for each level is set out in the award and updated annually, so confirm the current figure with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Casual cleaners are paid a casual loading on top of the minimum hourly rate, commonly set at 25%, to compensate for entitlements such as paid leave and notice that casuals do not receive. This loading also flows through to weekend and public holiday penalty calculations for casuals. Because rates can change, take the exact loaded hourly figure from the Fair Work source rather than estimating it yourself.

Cleaning work on weekends attracts penalty rates, commonly around 25% extra on Saturday and roughly 50% extra on Sunday as a guide, with casuals paid on a higher loaded basis. The exact percentages depend on whether the employee is full-time, part-time or casual. Always confirm the current weekend penalty rates for each employment type using the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing pay.

Cleaning performed on a public holiday is paid at a premium penalty rate, which can reach up to 150% on top of the minimum rate. Employees who would normally work that day but have it off are generally entitled to be paid as if they had worked their ordinary hours. Public holiday entitlements vary by state and territory, so check both the gazetted holidays and the current rate on the Fair Work source.

A broken shift is where a cleaner works two separate periods in the same day with a substantial unpaid break between them, such as a morning and an evening clean. Under MA000022 a broken shift allowance is payable for each day worked this way, subject to a weekly cap. This is a frequent oversight in split rosters. Confirm the current allowance amount via the Fair Work source.

Yes. The award sets a minimum engagement for casual and part-time cleaners, and it scales with the size of the site being cleaned, so a small location attracts a shorter minimum than a large one. The employee must be paid for that minimum period even if the actual work takes less time. Check the current minimum engagement rules in the award before rostering short cleans.

MA000022 includes a range of allowances, such as a leading hand allowance, first aid allowance, broken shift allowance, height allowance, cold work and hot work allowances, refuse collection and toilet cleaning allowances, plus meal, uniform and vehicle or travel allowances. Which ones apply depends on the duties and conditions of each role. Always take the current dollar value of any allowance from the Fair Work source, as these amounts change.

Overtime applies when a cleaner works beyond their ordinary hours, with a higher rate kicking in after the first couple of overtime hours, and Sundays and public holidays attracting their own overtime rates. Casuals are paid overtime on a higher loaded basis. The exact multipliers differ by day and employment type, so confirm the current overtime rates against the Fair Work Pay Calculator before paying.

Modern award minimum rates, including those in MA000022, increase from the first full pay period on or after 1 July each year following the Annual Wage Review. The 2026 review added 4.75% to award minimums. Running the previous year's rates into the new financial year is a common source of underpayment, so update your payroll promptly and verify the new figures on the Fair Work source.

Yes. Permanent cleaners are generally entitled to annual leave loading of 17.5% on top of their base rate when taking annual leave, or the relevant penalty rates they would have earned, whichever is greater. Casuals do not accrue annual leave, which is part of what their loading compensates for. Apply loading correctly at pay time and confirm the treatment for shift workers via the Fair Work source.

Underpayments must be back-paid, and employers can face penalties from the Fair Work Ombudsman, particularly where breaches are systematic. Common causes include wrong classifications, missed allowances and outdated rates. Keeping accurate time and pay records is your best protection. Valont's award-compliant payroll service applies the correct MA000022 rates, allowances and penalties automatically, reducing the risk of these errors.

Start by correctly classifying each cleaner, then map their rosters to the award's penalties, overtime, allowances and minimum engagements, and refresh the rates every 1 July. Always verify current figures using the Fair Work Pay Calculator rather than relying on memory. Many SMEs outsource this: Valont runs award-interpreted payroll against MA000022 so cleaners are paid correctly and your business stays compliant without you tracking every clause.