Afternoon and night shift rates under the Textile Award have recently changed.
What's changed
The Fair Work Commission has issued a decision that changes general afternoon and night shift rates in the Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Associated Industries Award (Textile Award).
The Fair Work Commission is the national workplace relations tribunal.
The changes are to correct an error relating to general shiftworker rates. Previously, these shiftworkers received afternoon and night shift loadings based on a percentage of the ordinary weekly rate paid per shift instead of a per hour rate.
The changes don't affect shiftwork in the textile industry and only apply to the other industries covered by the Textile Award (like clothing and footwear).
The changes to the award were made on 17 January 2025 and apply to all relevant shifts from 1 February 2021. This may have resulted in an overpayment to affected employees during this 4 year period.
Overpayments
Employees won't have to repay wages to employers for shifts worked in the period 1 February 2021 to 17 January 2025 because of this change to the award.
What applies now
A general shiftworker now receives:
- 115% of the ordinary hourly rate for each hour worked for an afternoon or night shift
- 130% of the ordinary hourly rate for each hour worked for a permanent night shift.
Our Pay and Conditions Tool has been updated with the new rates. Previous pay rates can be accessed by changing the calculation date.
A new version of the Textile Award pay guide is also available with the new rates. Previous versions for each year of the impacted period are also available to view and download.
Keep up to date
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Tools and resources
To learn more about the decision and access important documents, go the Fair Work Commission award case page: Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Associated Industries Award variation (AM2023/25).
You can also access the latest version of the award at Textile Award as well as an updated Textile Award pay guide.
Not sure who is covered by the award? To check who is and isn't covered, go to read our Textile Award summary page.
