Salt Industry Award

If you operate in the salt industry in Australia - harvesting, mining, refining, processing or packaging salt - and employ staff who are not otherwise award-free, the Salt Industry Award 2020 (MA000107) generally applies. It covers solar salt fields, salt works, refineries and similar operations. Some functions, such as long-distance transport or clerical work, may fall under a different award, so confirm coverage for each role against the Fair Work source before setting pay.

MA000107 sets minimum rates against classification levels defined by the skills, training and responsibilities of each role, from base labouring up to more skilled plant operation and supervisory work. You assign each employee to the level matching the duties they actually perform, then pay at least that level's minimum rate. Job title alone is not enough; assess the real work. Look up the current rate for the classification on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Casual employees in the salt industry are paid an hourly rate plus a casual loading, in place of paid leave and other permanent entitlements. Across modern awards this loading is commonly 25%, but you should treat that as a guide only and confirm the exact figure MA000107 sets, along with any minimum engagement and casual conversion rules, against the Fair Work source before running pay.

Ordinary hours worked on Saturdays and Sundays attract weekend penalties on top of the minimum rate. As a general guide across awards, Saturday loadings commonly run around 25% and Sunday around 50%, and they can combine with shift loadings on a continuous operation. The salt award sets its own figures, so confirm the current Saturday and Sunday rates for the relevant shift and employment type on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Work on a public holiday is paid at a premium under MA000107, and as a guide public holiday rates across awards can reach up to 150% of the ordinary rate. Employees who would normally work that day but do not because it is a public holiday are generally entitled to their ordinary pay. Because salt operations may run through holidays, confirm the current public holiday entitlement for each shift type against the Fair Work source.

Overtime applies when an employee works beyond the ordinary hours set by the award, such as exceeding daily or weekly limits or working outside the agreed spread of hours. The award sets overtime rates that step up after the first couple of hours, with higher rates on Sundays and public holidays. Continuous-shift work has its own arrangements. Confirm the exact overtime multipliers for your situation on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Yes. Part-time employees work fewer than full-time hours on a reasonably predictable pattern, and the award requires the agreed hours and days to be set out in writing, with changes also agreed in writing. Part-timers receive pro-rata leave and the same minimum classification rates as full-timers. Review the part-time provisions in MA000107 for the full requirements before setting a roster.

Where the salt award provides for apprentices or junior employees, they are paid on a percentage scale set against the relevant adult classification rate, with the percentage rising as the apprentice progresses or the junior ages. The adult rate underneath changes with the annual review, so the dollar figure for a junior or apprentice also changes. Confirm both the percentage and the resulting rate on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

The award provides for industry allowances that can include a first aid allowance for designated first aiders, a leading hand allowance for employees in charge of others, and meal and travel-related allowances in qualifying circumstances. Some are paid per shift or per occasion and are easy to overlook. Identify which apply to each role and confirm the current amounts on the Fair Work Pay Calculator, as they change with the annual review.

Yes. Annual leave loading is an extra payment on top of base pay when an employee takes paid annual leave, and under this award it is 17.5% of the ordinary rate. 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.

Minimum 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%. You must apply the new rates from that pay period, not the calendar date, so verify the current figures for each classification and allowance on the Fair Work Pay Calculator each year.

Salt harvesting and processing often run across afternoon, night and continuous shifts, and MA000107 pays shift loadings on top of the base rate that depend on the shift type and when it starts. These loadings can apply in addition to weekend and public holiday penalties, so a rotating overnight roster can combine several elements. Map each shift band and confirm the current loading for it on the Fair Work source rather than applying a single flat rate.

Start by confirming each employee's correct classification, then apply the current minimum rate, the right shift, weekend and public holiday penalties, and any allowances, refreshing every figure from the Fair Work Pay Calculator after each 1 July increase. Accurate time and shift records are essential on a continuous operation. Valont runs award-compliant payroll for employers like salt producers, mapping rosters to the correct classifications, penalties and allowances so the right amount is paid every cycle.