 National minimum wage decision
The rates in Payroll Check have been updated to reflect Fair Work Australia's annual wage review decision and the model phasing arrangements that apply in most modern awards.
The annual wage review decision applies from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2010. |
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From 1 January 2010, modern awards cover most workplaces.
Transitional arrangements in most modern awards mean that some new pay rates commence on the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2010.
Important! This means that pay rates for many employees change on 1 July 2010.
Transitional arrangements in most modern awards give employers and employees time to adjust to the changes by allowing new pay rates to be phased in over a period of four years until the full modern award rates apply on 1 July 2014.
In this period pay rates need to be calculated with reference to the pre-modern award entitlement that used to cover the employee before 1 January 2010 as well as the relevant modern award entitlement.
What is Payroll Check?
Payroll Check assists by calculating the base rates of pay for multiple employees based on the classification pairs, that you select. A classification pair consists of the employee's modern award classification and their corresponding pre-modern award classification.
Payroll Check will update base rates of pay with any changes resulting from Fair Work Australia’s annual wage review. The 2010 annual wage review is expected to take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Employers should check that they are paying the correct rates from 1 July each year.
The base rates of pay calculated by Payroll Check are minimum base rates of pay only – employers may choose to pay their employees more than the minimum at any time.
There are also certain specific transitional arrangements that affect the Children Services modern award, the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services modern award, some Building and Construction modern awards and some South Australian Hospitality employees. Information relating to the effect of these arrangements in the Plumbing and Building and Construction modern awards is available at specific transitional arrangements.
More information on other modern awards with specific transitional arrangements will be coming soon.
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How do I use Payroll Check?
Payroll Check works by calculating pay rates based on your selection of the employee’s modern award classification and their pre-modern award classification.
You will need to select:
- the modern award that applies
- the pre-modern award that applied before 1 January 2010
- the employee’s pre-modern and modern award classification
- if the business employed staff before 27 March 2006
- the State or Territory where work is performed.
Payroll Check will calculate minimum rates rates of pay based on your selection. If you have not selected the right information, or there are changes in your circumstances, it may affect the accuracy of the rates that Payroll Check provides.
Once you’ve calculated your employee’s base rates of pay, you can transfer them to your payroll system for easy reference and print a copy of your results.
Payroll Check provides you with information on base rates of pay. Other monetary entitlements may be payable under your modern award, such as penalty rates or allowances.
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Who can use Payroll Check?
You can use Payroll Check if you want to check base rates of pay for employees who are now covered by a modern award and were previously covered by (or could have been covered by) one of the following types of pre-modern awards:
- a pre-reform award (AP)
- a notional agreement preserving a State awards (NAPSA’s)
- a pay scale.
If Payroll Check does not provide pay rates for your type business, you can call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 or chat online with our 
Live help advisor for information on wages and conditions.
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