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Horticultural Award 2020 Update

Published April 20, 2022 (last updated February 9, 2023) - Head of Operations

Award Changes: Horticultural Pieceworkers

Coming into effect from the first full pay period on or after the 28th of April 2022 are changes relating to the Horticultural Award 2020. These changes are direct primary at Pieceworkers – employees paid by output (not hours) e.g., Number of kilograms picked; bins produced etc.

The changes to Pieceworkers relate to the creation of a minimum hourly safety net and will require employers to pay pieceworkers under the award at least the minimum hourly rate for their classification for all hours worked.

To fulfil their obligations, employers will need to:

  • Define who is a competent pieceworker for the purposes of calculating the minimum piecework rate.
  • Ensure that a pieceworker working at the average productivity of competent pieceworkers earns at least 15% more each hour than the minimum hourly rate for their classification
  • Give pieceworkers a piecework record that includes the pieceworker’s task, piece rates, and unit measures, as well as a statement about their entitlement to be paid the minimum hourly rate for all hours worked
  • Keep accurate records that includes start times and dates, task descriptions, rate amount, minimum hourly rates for classification level.
  • Pay at least the minimum hourly rate for hours worked in a day regardless of output.

Need More Advice?

To ensure you meet your obligations, contact our 24/7 advice line on: 1300 651 415

Call Us For Free Initial Advice

Our team can give you free initial advice for more information on these changes.

About Employsure

Employsure is one of Australia’s largest workplace relations advisers to small- and medium-businesses, with over 30,000 clients in ANZ. We take the complexity out of workplace legislation to help small business employers protect their business and their people.

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