The complete reference to the General Retail Industry Award MA000004 for Australian retail stores, shops and retail chains — coverage, classifications, penalty rates, allowances, minimum engagement and Fair Work compliance.
The General Retail Industry Award (MA000004) sets minimum pay by classification, starting at $27.81/hour full-time (Retail Employee Level 1). Saturdays pay 125% (full/part-time) or 150% (casual); Sundays 150% (full/part-time) or 175% (casual); public holidays 225% (full/part-time) or 250% (casual). Casual percentages already include the 25% casual loading. Figures current as at 1 July 2026, sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide — full tables below, or ask Fitz for the exact rate for your classification and shift.
Page updated 21 October 2026: added Christmas and New Year public holiday rates and the 2026–27 change timeline. Rates current as at 1 July 2026.
The General Retail Industry Award MA000004 covers general retail trade. It does not cover hair and beauty, pharmacy, fast food, or businesses covered by a more specific award. Getting coverage right matters — it drives the classification structure, penalty rates, and allowances that apply to every shift. Applying the wrong award creates systematic underpayment exposure.
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Current classification rates, penalties and allowances from the FWO Pay Guide.
How Fitz compares for retail businesses on the Retail Award.
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What award interpretation software does, and how Fitz HR applies the Retail Award before the roster is published, not after payroll runs.
Penalty rates under MA000004 for weekend and public holiday work, as a percentage of the ordinary hourly rate:
| When worked | % of ordinary rate |
|---|---|
| Saturday (FT/PT) | 125% |
| Saturday (casual) | 150% |
| Sunday (FT/PT) | 150% |
| Sunday (casual) | 175% |
| Public holiday (FT/PT) | 225% |
| Public holiday (casual) | 250% |
Casual employees receive a 25% loading; the casual penalty percentages above are all-inclusive of that loading, not stacked on top.
A sample of the full-time minimum rates. See the Retail Award pay rates page for the full table, streams and casual rates.
| Classification (full-time) | Hourly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Employee Level 1 | $27.81 | $1056.80 |
| Retail Employee Level 2 | $28.45 | $1081.00 |
| Retail Employee Level 3 | $28.89 | $1097.80 |
| Retail Employee Level 4 | $29.45 | $1119.10 |
| Retail Employee Level 5 | $30.66 | $1165.10 |
| Retail Employee Level 6 | $31.11 | $1182.10 |
| Retail Employee Level 7 | $32.67 | $1241.40 |
| Retail Employee Level 8 | $33.99 | $1291.80 |
The Retail Award sets a minimum period an employee must be paid for each time they are engaged:
| Allowance | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Cold work allowance (0°C and above) | $0.38 | per hour |
| Cold work allowance (below 0°C) | $0.97 | per hour |
| District allowance – Broken Hill | $1.26 | per hour |
| First aid allowance | $14.55 | per week |
| Laundry allowance (full-time employees) | $6.42 | per week |
| Laundry allowance (part-time or casual employees) | $1.28 | per shift |
| Liquor licence allowance | $34.69 | per week |
| Meal allowance – overtime | $24.56 | per occasion |
Operating under MA000004 creates obligations beyond paying the correct rate:
See the Fair Work compliance pillar guide and how Fitz HR compares with Employment Hero.
The summer public holidays are where Retail Award payroll errors cluster, because the public holiday penalty is the largest multiplier in the award and Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, which brings substitute-day rules into play. For a Retail Employee Level 1 employee on the current minimum of $27.81 an hour:
| Hour worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Monday–Friday hour | $27.81 | $34.76 |
| Public holiday hour (225% / 250% casual) | $62.57 | $69.53 |
The same multiplier applies at every classification level, so take the level’s ordinary rate from the table above and multiply. The casual public holiday percentage already includes the 25% casual loading; do not add it again. The national public holidays in the period are:
Each state and territory gazettes its own list, including part-day holidays such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in some jurisdictions, so check your state’s list before the roster is published. The penalty applies to hours worked on the gazetted day; where a substitute day is declared, the award sets out which day attracts the penalty, and that is a question worth asking Fitz before the pay run rather than after.
The rates on this page took effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, following the Fair Work Commission’s 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase, and apply for the 2026–27 financial year. The next Annual Wage Review decision is expected in June 2027 and takes effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2027. Superannuation guarantee is 12%. Nothing else is scheduled to change the Retail Award minimum rates before then; if the Commission varies the award mid-year, the rates alert below will tell you.
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