Increases to Minimum Pay Rates in the General Retail Industry Award from 1 September 2021

The government has recently announced increases to minimum pay rates for employees under the General Retail award. Employers in the beauty and wellness industry, who employ staff under this award, will need to ensure the new minimum rates are applied.

Minimum pay rates in the General Retail Industry Award have increased by 2.5% on the first full pay period on or after 1 September 2021.

Other Industry Awards (including hospitality, tourism, etc) have increased by 2.5% on the first full pay period on or after 1 November 2021.

Other recent changes to the Retail Award are below:

  • Penalty rates for casual employees performing evening weekday work From 1 March 2021, casual employees (excluding shift workers) performing evening work after 6pm Monday to Friday will receive penalty rates of 150% (including casual loading).
  • Removal of junior rates for levels 4 and above
    From 1 May 2021 junior pay rates will now apply to Retail Employees levels 1 to 3 only (level 4 and above will be paid adult rates).
  • Changes to ordinary hours for part-time employees

From 1 July 2021 part-time employees can now agree to work additional hours up to 38 hours per week via email or text (despite their weekly guaranteed hours) and be paid ordinary rather than overtime rates.

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