Stevedoring Industry Award
Industry award covering employers throughout Australia in the stevedoring industry (loading and unloading of cargo into or from a ship including transporting and storage at or adjacent to a wharf — cl 4.2) and their employees in the cl 16 classifications. Single sector (stevedoring). Excludes Port Authorities (MA000051), Coal Export Terminals (MA000045), Sugar Industry (MA000087), Manufacturing maintenance contractors (MA000010), Electrical contracting maintenance (MA000025) — cl 4.3. Standard rate = Grade 4 = $1,060.70/wk = $30.31/hr. Highly distinctive: 35-hour ordinary week (cl 13.1(a)) — most awards 38h; 27.5% AL loading (cl 24.6(b)) — most awards 17.5%; NO part-time category — only Full-Time, Guaranteed Wage, or Casual; Guaranteed Wage employee (cl 10) — guaranteed minimum number of full shifts per week OR equivalent payment; double headers (cl 22) — 2 consecutive shifts only after day shift, max 2/wk, never consecutive days; OT min 7 hours when not continuous with shift; PH night OT 300% / casual 375%; default super single fund (HOSTPLUS only — cl 20.4); pre-1991 stevedoring employee bonus +1 week AL; sick leave 28-day cashout election; personal leave payout on retirement/redundancy/death/disability after 10 years.
Fully built. Rates, allowances, penalties and any required apprentice / junior rates are all wired to the rate resolver and have been verified against the consolidated award text and the latest pay guide.
What's built
- All 7 cl 16.1 classifications at 35-hour-week rates (PR786590 ppc 01Jul25): G1 $26.36/hr, G2 $27.28, G3 $28.66, G4 $30.31 STANDARD RATE, G5 $30.94, G6 $32.99, G7 $37.15.
- Apprentice rates pre-2014 % of Grade 4: Y1 42, Y2 55, Y3 75, Y4 88. Post-2014 with Yr12 split: Y1 50.4/55.4, Y2 60.44/65.48, Y3 75/75, Y4 88/88. Adult apprentice continuity protection (cl 16.3(l)(ii)) — pre-apprenticeship FT 6mo or PT/regular casual 12mo retains pre-apprenticeship rate as floor.
- All cl 18 allowances: TWO all-purpose — Electrician's licence $48.26/wk (cl 18.2(b)) + Specialist functions G3/G4 $30.44/wk (cl 18.2(c) — operational AND clerical specialist functions, NOT incidental); first aid $22.59/wk (cl 18.2(d) — NOT payable to G3 first-aid-as-primary); leading hand tradesperson tiers (cl 18.2(e)) 3-10 emp $43.28 / 11-20 $64.38 / >20 $82.31; maintenance tradesperson G4 accredited training (cl 18.2(f)) 33% modules = 105% G4, 66% modules = 110%; roll-on/roll-off vessel $1.91/hr (cl 18.2(g) — noise exposure); stevedoring operations non-terminal (cl 18.2(h)) 7 hazard categories — explosives $2.76/hr / bulk grain barley/oats $3.71 / bulk grain other $2.86 / freezer <-12°C $2.44 / freezer ≥-12°C $1.17 / nickel concentrates $7.85 / first aid employee $5.09; telephone $14.43/wk (cl 18.2(i)); terminal operation 5-tier consolidated disability (cl 18.2(j)) absorbing wet/hot/cold/dirty/danger/oiling/transport-irregularity costs.
- Outport allowances (cl 18.5): max 7 days G1-6 / max 10 days G7 (extendable +24h to complete vessel). With/without accom & meals: $43.15/day vs $148.67-$202.43/day. Sat/Sun/PH non-work day in outport: $129.81/day or return home at employer expense.
- Penalty rows: OT day worker FT/GW Mon-Sat 200% / Sun-PH 250% (cl 21.3); OT day worker casual Mon-Sat 250% / Sun-PH 312.5% (cl 21.4 — additive stacking with casual loading); OT shiftworker continuous = 100% added to shift rate (cl 21.5(a)) / casual continuous +125%; OT shiftworker non-continuous FT/GW Mon-Sat 200, Sun 250, PH day/eve 250, PH night 300% (cl 21.5(b) — DISTINCTIVE PH night uplift); casual non-continuous 250/312.5/312.5/375; Shift penalty matrix (cl 23.2): day shift M-F 100%, Sat 200%, Sun 250%; evening M-F 150%, Sat 200%, Sun 250%; night Sun-Fri 200%, Sat 250%; Reporting at start without work (cl 23.3): day shift = 4hrs at ord rate; evening/night = full shift penalty; Sat/Sun/PH = 7hrs minimum.
- OT min payments (cl 21.7) — DISTINCTIVE: day worker continuous 1/2/3 hours; shiftworker continuous with day shift 1-2hrs (extendable to 3 by agreement); not-continuous = 7 HOURS (DISTINCTIVE high min); pre/post-shift preparatory 30 min. OT max attached to shift (cl 21.8): 10hrs day / 8hrs evening / 9hrs night (excluded for double headers). G7 pickup centre min 4 hours (cl 21.10).
- Double headers (cl 22): 2 consecutive shifts only after day shift, max 2/wk, never consecutive days. Pay = 100% extra Mon-Fri OR 50% extra Sat/Sun/PH on top of shift rate. Second double header in week: option of shift rate only + accrue day off. 1-hr paid meal break following first shift; 3-hr ord rate fallback if not given (cl 22.6(a)).
- Recall tiered min payments (cl 21.14(a)): <4h = 4h at OT; 4-6h = 6h at OT; >6h = full shift at OT (with completion-shorter exception). Paid leave-home to return-home (cl 21.14(b)). Rest period after OT 9 hrs (cl 21.13).
- Additional day off after 7 consecutive days incl OT (cl 21.11) — Sat/Sun OT during 7-consecutive-day stretch triggers 1 paid day off in following 14 days.
- 8 leave entitlements: AL 4w day worker / 5w shiftworker (cl 24.2) + pre-1991 employee +1w (cl 24.3 — DISTINCTIVE), 27.5% loading universal (cl 24.6(b) — DISTINCTIVE vs 17.5%), AL may be taken in 3 separate periods of ≥1 wk (cl 24.4), AL pay rise during leave uplifted (cl 24.7), PH during AL extra day added or taken separately within 12mo (cl 24.5), AL excessive 8w (10w shiftworker), AL cashout max 2 wks/yr min 4 remaining; sick leave 28-day cashout election (cl 25.3 — DISTINCTIVE); personal leave payout on retirement/redundancy/death/disability after 10 years (cl 25.2 — DISTINCTIVE 5-trigger payout); repatriation centre leave (cl 28 — ex-service personnel up to 4hrs paid, evidence required); accident pay 52-week make-up (cl 19) between workers comp and paid personal leave equivalent.
- 4 pay conditions: Full-Time (38h/wk avg... wait — 35h/wk avg per cl 13.1(a)), Guaranteed Wage (cl 10 — guaranteed minimum number of full shifts/week OR equivalent payment in lieu; NES leave accrues on hours actually worked over qualifying period), Casual (25% loading per cl 11.2; min 4hrs per engagement), Shiftworker (with continuous + non-continuous variants).
- Three shift definitions (cl 2 + 13.3): day shift commences 6am-9am; evening shift commences 1pm-5pm; night shift commences at or after 10pm. Standard shift length 7 hours (cl 13.3(d) — uncommon). 12hr shifts allowed by majority agreement (cl 13.3(f) + 14.1(b)(ii)) — inclusive of meal breaks and rest periods. 7-day continuous shiftwork (cl 13.3(c)). Shift sequencing rules (cl 13.3(e)): post-night cannot be evening; post-day cannot be night (except emergency).
- Re-grading downward permitted (cl 12.2) with written notice + recovery opportunity + 3-day grievance window. Excluded for workers comp loss (cl 12.2(b)(i)) or medical incapability (cl 12.2(b)(ii)) — employee retains higher rate per cl 12.2(c).
- Cl 13A right to disconnect with reserve/stand-by carve-out.
- Default super 1 fund (cl 20.4 substituted PR794749 ppc 23Jan26): HOSTPLUS only — DISTINCTIVE. Most awards 3-7 funds. Plus pre-12-Sep-2008 fund / defined-benefit fund. Super continues during paid leave + 52-wk workers comp (cl 20.5).
- Pay frequency weekly or fortnightly (cl 20.1). Cash or EFT. Termination 7 days.
- Standard NES termination notice (cl 34.1): <1y=1wk, 1-3y=2wk, 3-5y=3wk, >5y=4wk. Job search 1 day on termination (cl 34.2); 1 day per week of redundancy notice (cl 35.3). Redundancy lower-paid duties top-up INCLUDES shift rates AND penalty rates applicable to ord hours (cl 35.1(c) — DISTINCTIVE — broader than typical 'all-purpose allowances only').
- ~210 configuration entries (post v2 audit 2026-05-04) including 14 cl 2 definitions, 7-key coverage exclusion list (3 awards + 2 maintenance contractors), Schedule B CPI basis, IFA full set (8 keys), dispute NES references (s.65B/66M/76B/333N), 8-item consultation effects, super timing + stapled-fund + pre-2008 + defined-benefit + 52-wk workers comp continuation, NTW source MA000104, 5-item facilitative provisions registry, re-grading workflow with 2 carve-outs, shift sequencing rules, 5/6/7 day rostering arrangements, day/shift interchange 7-day notice, travelling/washing at shift rate, OT-min 7hr-not-continuous, double header full mechanics, sick leave 28-day cashout election, personal leave 5-trigger payout, outport length caps + accom-conditional rates, default super 1 fund (DISTINCTIVE), 27.5% AL loading universal, redundancy job-search + lower-paid-duties detail.
Known limitations
- 35-hour week (cl 13.1(a)) — DISTINCTIVE — hourly = weekly / 35 (NOT /38). Universal across all classifications and apprentice tiers. Resolver hard-codes 35.
- 27.5% AL loading (cl 24.6(b)) applies to ALL employees on AL, not just shiftworkers. Resolver hard-codes 27.5%.
- NO part-time category (cl 8) — only Full-Time, Guaranteed Wage, or Casual. Resolver must NOT route to PT pay condition.
- Guaranteed Wage handling: leave accrual based on hours ACTUALLY WORKED over qualifying period (cl 10.2), not nominal week. Resolver tracks actual hours per pay period.
- All-purpose allowance stacking: Electrician's licence $48.26/wk + Specialist functions $30.44/wk added to ord rate BEFORE any penalty/OT/loading calc. Casual ord rate also includes these.
- Shiftworker continuous OT calc: when OT continuous with shift, pay = shift_rate + 100% extra (FT/GW) OR shift_rate + 125% (casual). Don't apply double penalty.
- Shiftworker non-continuous OT: standalone OT rate (200/250/250/300 FT-GW or 250/312.5/312.5/375 casual) — replaces shift rate.
- Casual OT additive stacking — casual loading multiplied through OT rates (per cl 21.4 / 21.6 NOTES). Mon-Sat first 3h = 200% × 1.25 = 250%; PH night = 300% × 1.25 = 375%.
- Double header detection: 2 consecutive shifts, only after day shift, max 2/wk, never consecutive days. Resolver tracks per-week count + day pattern.
- Re-grading workflow: written notice + recovery period + 3-day grievance window. Excluded for workers-comp-loss / medical-incapability — employee retains higher rate.
- Shift sequencing: post-night cannot be evening; post-day cannot be night (except emergency). Resolver checks roster.
- PH night OT 300%/375% (cl 21.5(b)/21.6(b)): distinct uplift over normal PH OT — resolver must distinguish night-shift PH OT.
- OT min not-continuous = 7 HOURS (cl 21.7): when OT not continuous with ord shift, pay 7-hour minimum. Distinct from typical 3-4hr min.
- Call back tiered minimums (cl 21.14): <4h = 4h at OT; 4-6h = 6h at OT; >6h = full shift at OT. Paid leave-home to return-home.
- Sick leave 28-day cashout window (cl 25.3): employee elects at 1 July annually to cash out accumulated sick leave above 28-day threshold.
- Personal leave payout 10-year service trigger (cl 25.2): on retirement/redundancy/death/disability — pay all accumulated unused at ord rate.
- Pre-1991 employee bonus: for employees engaged in stevedoring industry on 25 Nov 1991 — extra week AL + maintained paid meal/rest entitlements. Resolver needs employment-start-date check.
- Outport length cap: G1-6 max 7 days; G7 max 10 days (extendable +24h to complete vessel). Resolver tracks days in outport per assignment.
- Default super single fund: HOSTPLUS only — distinct from typical 3-7 fund choice. Resolver still respects ATO-stapled / pre-12-Sep-2008 / defined-benefit fund per cl 20.4.
- Redundancy lower-paid duties top-up (cl 35.1(c)) INCLUDES shift rates AND penalty rates applicable to ord hours — broader than typical 'all-purpose allowances only' top-up. Resolver computes top-up against the FULL ordinary rate including shift loadings.
Setup & special instructions
- Standard rate = Grade 4 = $1,060.70/wk = $30.31/hr (cl 2 def). Used as basis for apprentice rate percentages and other %-of-standard references.
- Hourly rate = weekly / 35 (cl 16.2) — DISTINCTIVE. All weekly-to-hourly conversions divide by 35, NOT 38.
- AL loading is 27.5% (cl 24.6(b)) NOT 17.5% — significant uplift applies to ALL employees on AL.
- Coverage excludes Port Authorities (MA000051), Coal Export Terminals (MA000045), Sugar Industry (MA000087), Manufacturing maintenance contractors (MA000010), Electrical contracting maintenance (MA000025). Stevedoring employer covered for in-house stevedoring operations only.
- Three pay-condition routes: Full-Time (35h/wk avg), Guaranteed Wage (cl 10 — guaranteed shifts/week OR equivalent), Casual (25% loading min 4hrs per engagement).
- Pre-1991 employee bonus (cl 24.3 + 15.1(b)) — extra week AL + maintained paid meal/rest. Triggered by employment-start-date ≤ 25 Nov 1991 in the stevedoring industry.
- Double header pay (cl 22.4): 100% on top of shift rate (Mon-Fri) OR 50% on top (Sat/Sun/PH). Plus paid 1-hr meal break following first shift OR 3-hr fallback. Second double header in week: option of shift rate only + accrue day off.
- PH night OT 300% (FT/GW) or 375% (casual) — must distinguish night-shift PH OT from day/evening PH OT (250%/312.5%).
- Cl 20.4 super: HOSTPLUS only fallback. Stapled fund per ATO process applies. Pre-2008 employer fund or defined-benefit acceptable.
- • Stevedoring
- • Cargo loading
- • Cargo unloading
- • Wharf operations
- • Container terminal
- • Bulk cargo
- • Ship-to-shore handling
- • Lashing
- • Outport stevedoring
- • Maritime cargo
The consolidated award text is the authoritative source. Always confirm specific obligations against the award itself — Mployr's implementation status reflects what we've seeded; it does not replace legal advice.
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