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ARTICLE · 05 MAY 2026

Everything Employers Need To Know About Changes To Junior Award Rates

Cooper Grace Ward
Cooper Grace Ward
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The Fair Work Commission has handed down a decision to phase out junior rates in three modern awards.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Annie Smeaton
Annie Smeaton
William Head
William Head
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After nearly 18 months, the Fair Work Commission has released its decision on junior rates. This decision affects three modern awards:

  • General Retail Industry Award 2020
  • Fast Food Industry Award 2020
  • Pharmacy Industry Award 2020.

As a result, the three Awards will be amended to phase out junior rates for employees aged 18 to 20.

The proceedings in the Fair Work Commission

Currently, the three Awards provide the following junior rates (as a percentage of the adult rate):

  • under 16: 40-45%
  • 16 years old: 50%
  • 17 years old: 60%
  • 18 years old: 70%
  • 19 years old: 80%
  • 20 years old: 90%.

In June 2024, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) applied to remove junior rates for all employees aged over 18 and to reduce junior rates for employees under 18 in the three Awards.

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