Western Australia’s manufacturing sector relies on skilled tradespeople shaping metal into essential products, from machinery parts to structural components. The Manufacturing, Maintenance and Metal Trades Award, updated for 2026, sets clear rules on pay, hours, and conditions to protect workers in this vital industry.
The Manufacturing, Maintenance and Metal Trades Award stands as a cornerstone for workers in Western Australia’s metalworking and fabrication industries. It consolidates previous awards, like those for sheet metal workers and vehicle builders, into one streamlined document under Part 1 for general manufacturing and Part 2 for construction-related tasks.
This state-based award, enforced by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, ensures fair minimum standards amid a sector employing thousands in workshops, factories, and maintenance yards. For workers, it means predictable earnings, protected hours, and clear paths to resolve issues, especially as the industry adapts to modern demands like sustainable fabrication and advanced machinery.
In a state rich with mining and resources, where metal trades support everything from equipment repair to product assembly, staying informed about the 2026 version helps workers maximize their entitlements without relying solely on employer goodwill.
Coverage and Who It Applies To
This award targets businesses and employees in the state industrial relations system, excluding national system employers like large corporations under federal rules. It spans manufacturing, maintenance, metal trades, and associated occupations, covering the making, assembly, processing, treatment, fabrication, and preparation of products from steel, iron, metal, sheet metal, tin, brass, copper, and non-ferrous metals.
Employees from entry-level production workers to advanced engineering tradespeople fall under its scope, including roles in engineering, electrical work, and fabrication. Part 1 handles general operations in factories and workshops, while Part 2 applies specifically to construction-site metalwork as defined in the award’s clauses.
Businesses must perform a three-step check: confirm state system status, verify industry fit, and identify the relevant part. Sole traders, partnerships, or state public sector entities dealing in these trades qualify, ensuring broad protection for blue-collar roles across Perth, regional hubs like Bunbury, and remote sites.
Key Pay Rates and Allowances
Pay structures reward skill levels, with classifications from basic production employees to specialized tradespeople holding advanced certificates. Entry-level workers start at rates reflecting basic competencies, scaling up through modules of engineering or production certificates to top tiers requiring trade qualifications or higher diplomas.
Adult rates form the baseline, adjusted annually, with juniors and apprentices receiving proportional scales—often 50-90% of adult pay depending on age and progress. Allowances boost earnings for specifics like tool allowances for tradespeople maintaining personal kits, meal allowances after long overtime shifts, and protective clothing reimbursements for hazardous environments.
| Classification Level | Typical Roles | Base Weekly Hours Pay Example | Common Allowances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1-2 | Production Assistants, Basic Fabricators | Standard full-time base | Tool, laundry |
| Level 3-4 | Intermediate Trades, Assemblers | Skilled hourly + shift | Shift, meal |
| Level 5+ | Engineering Tradespersons, Advanced Specialists | Premium for certs/diplomas | Leading hand, site |
Shift workers gain loadings—ordinary time on afternoons or nights, plus penalties for weekends. Trainees see minor tweaks for school leavers, emphasizing progression through structured training.
Working Hours and Overtime Rules
Standard hours cap at 38 per week, averaged over a roster cycle, typically spread across five days from Monday to Friday. Rosters can span up to 12-hour shifts in blocks, with breaks mandated: 30-60 minutes unpaid for meals and 10-minute paid smicos every few hours.
Overtime kicks in beyond ordinary hours at time-and-a-half for the first three hours, doubling thereafter, with Sundays and public holidays at double or higher rates. Workers can bank overtime as time off instead of pay, at equivalent rates, offering flexibility for family or rest.
In maintenance scenarios, emergency call-outs trigger minimum payments, like four hours at penalty rates, safeguarding those on standby for breakdowns in mining gear or factory lines.
Leave Entitlements and Breaks
Annual leave grants four weeks paid per year for full-timers, pro-rated for part-timers, with an extra week for shift workers. Loading of 17.5% adds to payouts, and untaken leave carries over or pays out on termination.
Sick and carer’s leave provide 10 days combined annually, building cumulatively, while parental leave mirrors state minima at 12 months unpaid with job security. Long service leave vests after 10 years, payable at double rates post-seven years in some cases.
Public holidays remain paid days off unless worked, then at double time plus a half, ensuring metalworkers enjoy Victoria Day or Labour Day without loss.
Recent Updates for Clarity
Effective from late February 2026, the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission refined miscellaneous provisions for better readability. Changes modernize definitions, swap gender-specific terms for neutral ones, and clarify ambiguous clauses on records, wages, and supported wage employees.
These tweaks align with the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act, preventing less favorable terms, and simplify compliance without altering core pay or hours. Employers gain updated summaries from Wageline, reducing disputes over interpretations in busy shops.
Workers benefit from straightforward language on training modules, quality controls, and team guidance roles, easing on-the-job navigation.
How to Check If Your Job Fits
Start with your employer’s industrial system—state for small businesses, non-corporatized public entities. Next, match your duties: welding, machining, assembling metal products? If yes, scan classifications for your skill set, from basic production to advanced electrical trades.
Consult the full award on the WAIRC site or Wageline summaries. Doubtful cases, like mixed manufacturing-construction roles, hinge on primary tasks—general fabrication leans Part 1.
Apprentices or juniors cross-check training paths against listed modules for accurate progression.
Employer Obligations and Penalties
Bosses must pay award minima, provide payslips detailing rates and loadings, and keep records for seven years. Rosters post in advance, and tools or gear supplied where needed. Non-compliance risks fines up to thousands per breach, audited by Labour Relations officers.
Training support falls on employers too, identifying modules in enterprise programs for career growth. Violations, from underpayment to denied breaks, trigger backpay plus interest.
Worker Rights and Dispute Resolution
Know your classification to demand correct pay; join unions like the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union for advocacy. Disputes start informally, escalate to the Commission for conciliation or arbitration.
Supported wage provisions aid those with disabilities, pegging pay to productivity assessments. Anti-discrimination clauses reinforce fair treatment across genders, ages, and backgrounds.
Practical Tips for Workers
Review payslips monthly against award summaries—spot check loadings or juniors’ percentages. Discuss rosters early to balance overtime banking with cash needs. Keep training logs for promotion claims.
For shifts, track meal allowances; in hazards, insist on safety gear reimbursements. New to the job? Request a classification review after gaining modules.
Future Outlook for the Sector
Western Australia’s metal trades eye growth with green manufacturing, like electric vehicle parts and renewable infrastructure. The 2026 award supports this by valuing upskilling, potentially integrating more tech modules for automation and precision engineering.
Lance Evans is a contributor at CSKHYBER.co.nz covering New Zealand and Australia news, with a focus on trending updates and public-interest stories.