Restaurant industry casual wages reduced on Sunday

6th June 2014

As previously reported in ER Updates, the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission on 14 May this year overturned a decision prescribing a penalty rate of 75% for casual work performed on Sundays in restaurants, cafe’s, reception centres, tea rooms, night clubs and roadhouses. The Commission has now published the Determination and varied the Restaurant Industry Award 2010 to give effect to its decision.

A casual employee classified at the Introductory level or levels 1 and 2 must be paid an additional 50% of the ordinary award wage on Sunday. This penalty is inclusive of the casual loading. Casual employees classified at level 3 or above must continue to be paid an additional 75% of the ordinary award wage for work on Sunday.

No existing employee classified at level 3 or above may be re-classified to level 1 or 2 or otherwise discriminated against in the allocation of work on Sundays as a result of the variation.

The descriptions of the Food and Beverage Attendant grades 1 and 2 have also been ammended in Schedule B - Classification Structure and Definitions to incorporate the receipt of money as one of the duties.

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