New General Order issued: Minimum Casual Loading Rate for Specified Awards
In a previous ER Alert we advised the sector about UnionsWA’s application (APPL CICS 7 of 2024) to the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) for a General Order to set casual loading at 25% in specified State awards, including in the Local Government Officers’ (Western Australia) Award 2021 (LGO Award) and the Municipal Employees (Western Australia) Award 2021 (ME Award).
WALGA did 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.
Having sought feedback from the sector, WALGA submitted to the WAIRC that the proposed General Order should take effect no earlier than one month from the date it is issued, to allow time for any affected Local Government employers to adjust their payroll and other systems accordingly.
The WAIRC has now issued the General Order which will operate from 26 April 2025. A copy of the General Order has been published on the WAIRC website. Reasons for the decision can be found here.
Local Governments which employ casuals who are covered by one or more of the awards listed in the General Order (see pages 4 to 7) should ensure that from 26 April 2025 they apply a 25% casual loading to the award rates of pay.
Application of the new General Order
The new General Order applies to the two Local Government State awards:
- Local Government Officers’ (Western Australia) Award 2021 and
- Municipal Employees (Western Australia) Award 2021
- 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)
- Nurses' (Day Care Centres) Award (The Municipality of the City of Nedlands, The Municipality of the Shire of Swan)
If you have any questions about this alert, please email WALGA Employee Relations or call 1300 366 956.
