Casual loading General Order
As previously advised, UnionsWA is seeking a General Order from the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) to increase award casual loading rates from 20 to 25%. This is in addition to the changes to the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 (WA) (s 11) concerning the minimum wage for casual employees which commence on 31 January 2025.
The application CICS 7 of 2024 has been allocated to a Commission in Court Session comprising of Senior Commissioner R Cosentino, Commissioner T Emmanuel and Commissioner T B Walkington. The first hearing is listed at 2.15pm on 6 February 2025 where directions will likely issue.
The section 50 parties (the Minister for Industrial Relations and CCIWA) and WALGA are respondents to the application.
The following awards which include Local Governments as award respondents have been listed within the scope of the proposed general order:
- Artworkers Award (Town of Narrogin)
- Aged and Disabled Persons Hostels Award, 1987 (City of Bayswater Aged Persons Homes Trust)
- Building Trades and Labourers (Construction) Award (City of Belmont, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, City of Perth, City of Stirling)
- Building Trades and Labourers (General) Award (before 11 December 2024 named Albany Council, Fremantle City Council, Perth City Council and Subiaco City Council)
- Child Care (Out of School Care - Playleaders) Award (Shire of Wanneroo, City of Stirling, City of Fremantle, City of Cockburn, City of Nedlands)
- Child Care (Subsidised Centres) Award (Bassendean Town Council, City of Bayswater Child Care Centre Association (Inc), City of Bayswater Neighbourhood Centre, City of Belmont, City of Nedlands, Shire of Mandurah, Shire of Rockingham, Town of Albany, Town of Kwinana)
- Cleaners and Caretakers Award, 1969 (Cottesloe Town Council, Perth City Council)
- Local Government Officers’ (Western Australia) Award 2021 (LGO Award) (Kalamunda, Boddington, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Bruce Rock, Carnamah, Dalwallinu, Dowerin, Goomalling, Halls Creek, Harvey, Kondinin, Laverton, Leonora, Murray, Nannup, Narembeen, Ravensthorpe, Sandstone, Three Springs, Victoria Plains, Wagin, Wandering, Waroona, Woodanilling, Yalgoo)
- Municipal Employees (Western Australia) Award 2021 (ME Award) (Kalamunda, Boddington, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Bruce Rock, Carnamah, Dalwallinu, Dowerin, Goomalling, Halls Creek, Harvey, Kondinin, Laverton, Leonora, Murray, Nannup, Narembeen, Ravensthorpe, Sandstone, Three Springs, Victoria Plains, Wagin, Wandering, Waroona, Woodanilling, Yalgoo)
- Nurses' (Day Care Centres) Award (The Municipality of the City of Nedlands, The Municipality of the Shire of Swan
WALGA does not oppose the application on the basis that it consented to increasing the casual award loading from 20% to 25% in the LGO Award and ME Award in APPL 3 and 4 of 2023 on 14 November 2025.
Other parties to the proceedings also do not oppose the application. However, one of the parties is seeking for the proposed General Order to be heard concurrently with, or have effect from the 2025 State Wage Case General Order.
Please contact WALGA ER by no later than close of business on Wednesday, 5 February 2025 if you would like us to raise any issues or concerns of your Local Government with the WAIRC. We will also write separately to the Local Governments named above.
If you have any questions about this alert, please email WALGA Employee Relations or call 1300 366 956.
