MA000020

MA000020: the construction award, clause by clause

MA000020 covers on-site building and construction work in Australia. It sets CW1–CW8 classifications, the industry allowance, fares and travel patterns allowance, multi-storey allowances, RDO arrangements and overtime at 150% then 200%. Project Payroll applies every one of those rules automatically from approved timesheets.

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Clause by clause

What the award says, and what we do with it

Classifications (CW1–CW8)
What it does
Sets the base hourly rate per level
How we apply it
Mapped to each worker at setup and stepped when they progress
Industry allowance
What it does
Paid for all purposes, per hour worked
How we apply it
Applied to every ordinary and overtime hour automatically
Fares & travel patterns
What it does
Daily amounts for travel to site
How we apply it
Applied per day worked from the timesheet, not per week
Multi-storey allowance
What it does
Rises by building level band
How we apply it
Applied from the project's configured level band
Overtime
What it does
150% first two hours, 200% after
How we apply it
Interpreted against daily and weekly hours, including shift interaction
RDOs
What it does
Accrued and taken on a cycle
How we apply it
Your published RDO calendar built into the engine
Redundancy fund contributions
What it does
Prescribed under many agreements
How we apply it
Remitted per the fund's schedule with reporting

Clause	What it does	How we apply it
Classifications (CW1–CW8)	Sets the base hourly rate per level	Mapped to each worker at setup and stepped when they progress
Industry allowance	Paid for all purposes, per hour worked	Applied to every ordinary and overtime hour automatically
Fares & travel patterns	Daily amounts for travel to site	Applied per day worked from the timesheet, not per week
Multi-storey allowance	Rises by building level band	Applied from the project's configured level band
Overtime	150% first two hours, 200% after	Interpreted against daily and weekly hours, including shift interaction
RDOs	Accrued and taken on a cycle	Your published RDO calendar built into the engine
Redundancy fund contributions	Prescribed under many agreements	Remitted per the fund's schedule with reporting

MA000020 questions

Is the industry allowance paid on overtime?

Yes. It is an all-purpose allowance, so it forms part of the rate that penalties are calculated on. Getting this wrong is one of the most common underpayment findings in construction.

Do fares and travel apply on RDOs?

No, they follow days actually worked, which is why paying them weekly rather than daily creates errors.

How often do rates change?

Annually from the Fair Work Commission's minimum wage decision, effective the first full pay period after 1 July, plus any agreement steps.

What if we have an EBA as well?

The agreement prevails where it is more favourable. We build both and apply the better-off outcome per clause.

Reviewed August 2026. General information about MA000020, not legal advice — always check the current award text and your agreement.