Payroll Rules for the Building Industry Award (MA000020)

The Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020) covers most labourers and tradespeople on site. It has unique allowances that you must pay to avoid wage theft claims.

1. Daily Travel Allowance

Workers are usually entitled to a daily travel allowance (fares and travel pattern allowance) for every day they work on site. This compensates them for the variable nature of work locations.

2. Inclement Weather

If it rains and work stops, you generally still have to pay your staff for ordinary hours (up to certain limits). You cannot just send casuals home without pay if they have already started.

3. RDOs (Rostered Days Off)

The construction industry typically works a 38-hour week averaged over 4 weeks. Staff work 40 hours a week for 3 weeks and bank the extra 2 hours per week to take a paid day off in the 4th week.