Joinery and Building Trades Award

If you operate a joinery, cabinetmaking, shopfitting or building-trades business in Australia and employ tradespeople, apprentices or entry-level staff in the award's classifications, the Joinery and Building Trades Award 2020 (MA000029) generally applies. It covers bench and shop work and trades such as carpentry, stonemasonry, plastering, painting and signwriting. On-site construction can fall under a different award, so confirm coverage against the Fair Work source before setting pay and conditions.

Match the employee to the level that reflects the work they actually do, using the award's classification definitions, which set out the trade skills, qualifications and responsibilities for each level. The classifications form a single integrated structure with an entry-level, non-trades band rather than a separate labourer class, and a qualified tradesperson sits well above that entry-level band. Title alone is not enough; assess the real duties and any qualifications held. Once you have the correct level, look up its current minimum rate on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Apprentices are paid a percentage of a trades-level rate that increases with each year of the apprenticeship, with separate minimum arrangements for adult apprentices. Allowances can also apply to apprentices on top of the percentage rate. Because the percentage changes as the apprentice progresses, you need to track each apprentice's year carefully. Confirm the current apprentice percentages and rates, including for adult apprentices, on 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 this loading is commonly 25%, but treat that as a guide and confirm the exact figure for MA000029 on the Fair Work source. Casual loading applies on top of the minimum rate for the employee's classification, and you should check how it interacts with weekend and overtime penalties before running pay.

Ordinary hours worked on Saturdays and Sundays attract penalty rates under the award. As a general guide across awards, Saturday loadings are commonly around 25% and Sunday around 50%, but MA000029 sets its own figures, including different treatment depending on the day and employment type. Always confirm the current weekend rates for your employees on the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing pay rather than assuming a percentage.

Public holiday entitlements flow from the National Employment Standards and the award. As a guide, work on a public holiday across awards can attract penalties of up to 150% of the minimum rate, and a minimum engagement may apply. Employees who would normally work that day but do not because it is a public holiday are generally entitled to their ordinary pay. Confirm the current public holiday entitlement for MA000029 against the Fair Work source.

Overtime applies when an employee works beyond the ordinary hours set by the award, such as exceeding the daily or weekly limits or working outside the spread of ordinary hours. It is paid at penalty rates that step up after the first couple of hours worked, with higher rates on Sundays and public holidays. A meal allowance can also apply on qualifying overtime. For the exact current multipliers, refer to the overtime provisions and the Fair Work source.

Yes. Part-time employees work fewer hours than full-timers on a reasonably predictable pattern, and the award requires the agreed hours, days and times to be set out, with changes agreed. Part-timers receive pro-rata leave and the same minimum rates as full-timers for their classification. Getting the agreed pattern documented matters for calculating overtime correctly. Check the part-time provisions in the award for the full requirements.

MA000029 provides a weekly industry allowance, sometimes described as a disability allowance, for employees engaged on joinery, shopfitting, stonemasonry or outside work, recognising the conditions of that work. It is paid in addition to the minimum rate and is separate from penalties. Other allowances, such as the tool allowance, interact with it. Check which employees qualify and confirm the current amount on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Annual leave loading is an extra payment on top of base pay when an employee takes paid annual leave. Under this award it is 17.5% of the minimum rate of pay, and it applies to full-time and part-time employees taking annual leave. Casuals do not accrue annual leave. Apply the loading when processing leave payments, and confirm the calculation against the Fair Work source, particularly where allowances form part of ordinary pay.

Minimum rates, apprentice rates and many allowances are reviewed each year in 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 increased modern award minimums by 4.75%. To stay compliant you must apply the new rates from the correct pay period, so verify the current figures for each classification, apprentice year and allowance on the Fair Work Pay Calculator each year.

Beyond the industry disability allowance for joinery, shopfitting, stonemasonry and outside work, MA000029 provides a tool allowance, a separate stonemasonry tools allowance, fares and travel provisions, and a meal allowance on qualifying overtime. Because some are weekly and others apply only in certain circumstances, they are easy to miss. Identify which apply to each role and confirm the current amounts on the Fair Work Pay Calculator rather than relying on remembered values.

Start by confirming each employee's correct classification and each apprentice's current year, then apply the right minimum rate, weekend and overtime penalties, and the allowances that apply - especially the industry disability and tool allowances - refreshing every figure from the Fair Work Pay Calculator after each 1 July increase. Accurate time and pay records are essential. Valont runs award-compliant payroll for trades employers, mapping staff to the correct classifications, apprentice rates, allowances and penalties so the right amount is paid every cycle.