Casual workers in Western Australia (WA) are set to receive a pay boost as the casual loading rate increases from 20% to 25%, impacting employees covered under 120 different WA awards.
The decision, which follows ongoing discussions about fair pay and working conditions, is expected to benefit thousands of workers across various industries.
According to 7NEWS, the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) confirmed that this change will take effect from 26 April 2025, ensuring that casual employees receive a higher compensation for their work.
What the Increase Means for Casual Workers
The increase in casual loading will apply to all private sector and local government awards that currently set the rate below 25%. The WAIRC General Order ensures that any award provisions providing a lower casual loading will be overridden.
For workers on the state minimum wage, the loading increase follows a January 2025 rise that set the minimum casual hourly rate for employees aged 21 and over at $30.22. This means all adult casual employees covered by the WA state system will receive at least $30.22 per hour from April 2025.
According to the WAIRC,
The General Order will override any award provisions that provide a lower percentage casual loading.
This means that businesses and employees must comply with the updated wage rates from 26 April 2025 without needing individual contract changes.
Examples of Pay Rate Increases
The WA government is still calculating the precise wage adjustments for different awards, but preliminary estimates indicate that hairdressers (Level 1) will see an increase of $1.27 per hour, raising their casual hourly rate from $30.32 to $31.59. Over an eight-hour shift, this results in an extra $10.16 per day.
Similarly, plumbers and gas fitters will experience a rise of $1.51 per hour, bringing their casual hourly rate from $36.25 to $37.76, which translates to an additional $12.08 per day for an eight-hour shift.
The updated WA award wage summaries, incorporating the new 25% casual loading, are expected to be published in early April 2025.
Which Workers Will Not See a Change?
Some WA awards already include a 25% casual loading, meaning that workers covered under these agreements will not see an additional increase.
This applies to employees in sectors such as restaurant, tearoom, and catering services, as well as those working under the Shop and Warehouse (Wholesale and Retail Establishments) Award, the Metal Trades (General) Award, and the Clerks (Commercial, Social and Professional Services) Award.
Additionally, the WAIRC has clarified that certain WA awards set pay rates below the state minimum wage. In such cases, employers must ensure that workers receive at least the minimum pay rate established by the state.
