Water Industry Award

If you operate in the water industry in Australia - supplying water or collecting, treating and disposing of wastewater and sewage - and you employ staff who are not otherwise award-free, the Water Industry Award 2020 (MA000113) is generally the relevant award. Some work, such as major construction of new infrastructure or clerical roles, may fall under a different award. Confirm coverage for each role against the Fair Work source before setting pay and conditions.

MA000113 sets minimum rates against classification levels defined by the skills, qualifications and responsibilities of each role, from general and entry-level work up to plant and network operation, trades and senior technical or supervisory duties. You assign each employee to the level matching the duties they actually perform, including any tickets or qualifications, 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.

Because supply must continue around the clock, employees are often required to be on call or on standby to respond to faults outside ordinary hours. The award provides a payment for being on standby, and a separate call-out or recall entitlement - often with a minimum payment - when the employee is actually called in to work. These are distinct from ordinary and overtime hours, so identify when each applies and confirm the current on-call, standby and call-out provisions against the Fair Work source.

Casual employees in the water 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 MA000113 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, which arises regularly on a continuous water or wastewater operation. As a general guide across awards, Saturday loadings commonly run around 25% and Sunday around 50%, and they can combine with shift loadings for evening or overnight work. The water 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 MA000113, 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 treatment and pumping operations run through holidays, confirm the current public holiday entitlement for each shift type against the Fair Work source before processing that pay run.

MA000113 pays shift loadings on top of the base rate for afternoon, night and continuous shifts, with the loading depending on the shift type and when it starts. These loadings apply in addition to any weekend or public holiday penalties, so an overnight weekend shift can combine several elements. Map each shift's start time and day, then confirm the current loading for that shift band from the Fair Work source rather than applying a single flat figure.

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, and it commonly arises when staff are recalled to deal with a fault. The award sets overtime rates that step up after the first couple of hours, with higher rates on Sundays and public holidays. Identify the overtime hours and confirm the applicable rate for this award 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 MA000113 for the full requirements before setting a roster.

The award provides for industry allowances that can include a first aid allowance for designated first aiders, a leading hand allowance for those in charge of others, allowances for confined-space, sewage or other unpleasant work, 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. Where an employee regularly works shifts, the leave loading is designed so they are not worse off taking leave; apply it 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, penalty and allowance on the Fair Work Pay Calculator each year.

The detail is where the risk sits: the right classification, on-call, standby and call-out entitlements, stacked shift, weekend and public holiday penalties on a 24/7 operation, the full set of allowances, and figures refreshed every July. Anchor every figure to the Fair Work Pay Calculator and review pay each 1 July, keeping accurate records of hours, shifts and call-outs. Valont runs award-compliant payroll for employers like water and wastewater utilities, mapping rosters to the correct classifications, on-call arrangements, penalties and allowances so the right amount is paid every cycle.