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LEGAL AND IR
NATIONAL
Allowances under GRIA Allowances under the General Retail Industry Award Under the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (GRIA), there are some circumstances where employers are required to pay employees an extra payment called an “allowance” in addition to their ordinary rate of pay. This includes circumstances where the employee performs certain duties, has a particular skill, works in hazardous conditions, or incurs an expense associated with their employment. Type of allowance Meal allowance
Summary of allowances under GRIA The rules regarding allowances are contained in clause 19 of GRIA. Please see below a table that summarises the type of allowances under the GRIA, when the allowances are payable, and the amount of each allowance payable. Please note that the amount of each allowance is subject to change, and the amount payable may increase where there is an applicable amendment of the GRIA.
Clause under GRIA Clause 19.20
Amount of allowance payable (as of publishing date) A meal allowance is payable to an employee who is required to work overtime of more than one hour on any day after the time at which the employee ordinarily finishes work for the day and: (a) the employee was not given at least 24 hours notice of that requirement; and
If an employee is entitled to a meal allowance, the employer must pay the employee:
• a meal allowance of $19.45; or
• supply the employee with a meal.
(b) the employee cannot reasonably return home for If the employee has worked a meal within the period of the meal break. more than 4 hours of overtime in a day, the employer must pay the employee a further meal allowance of $17.63. Special clothing allowance
Clause 19.3
A special clothing allowance is payable where the employer requires the employee to wear a company uniform, protective clothing or any other special clothing.
If an employee is required to wear special clothing, the employer must reimburse an employee for the cost of purchasing any such clothing (including purchasing replacement clothing due to normal wear and tear) that is not supplied or paid for by the employer. If the employee is responsible for laundering the company uniform, the employer must pay the employee a laundry allowance of: (a) $6.25 per week for a fulltime employee; and (b) $1.25 per shift for a parttime or casual employee.
mga.asn.au | June 2022 | Edition 3
