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A Win for Employers of Adult Apprentices!

Master Plumbers Australia has been successful in a submission to the Fair Work Commission to delay an increase to the national minimum wage for Adult Apprentices. This increase is now in line with the increase to the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2010 which will take place from 1 November 2020.

On 19 June 2020 the Fair Work Commission announced a 1.75% increase to the National Minimum Wage and all Modern Awards. The increase will apply on a staggered basis with Group 1 Awards and the National Minimum Wage to take effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2020. Under this arrangement it would have meant that while most employees under the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2010 would have had their wage increase delayed to 1 November, Adult Apprentices would have had their wage increase apply from 1 July.

Master Plumbers’ Australia have been successful in a submission to the Fair Work Commission to delay the increase for adult apprentices that are paid at the national minimum wage.

Clause 20.3(a)(iii) and 20.3(b)(iii) provide that the rate of pay for an adult apprentice will not be less than the ‘federal minimum wage’, for Sprinkler Fitter apprentices and Plumbing and Mechanical apprentices, respectively.

As it is a Group 2 Award, a determination has been issued so that the increase to the ‘federal minimum wage’ for the purposes of clauses 20.3(a)(iii) and 20.3(b)(iii) does not take effect until 1 November 2020.

To find out more, contact your local Master Plumber Association. Click here to find yours.