Cleaning Services Award (MA000022) Updates: Key Changes You Need to Know – Your Payroll Australia

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the changes made to the Cleaning Services Award to ensure compliance with relevant Fair Work clauses.

If you have any customised rules within the award, it is important to note:

Customised rules will not automatically update when you apply award updates to your system.
Review and understand any changes made to the award rules.
Verify that your customised rules are not affected by these changes. If the changes do impact your customised rules, you will need to update them manually.
To edit or add customised rules, award rules must first be unlocked. For step-by-step instructions, please refer to this article.

Below is a summary of the implemented updates and guidance for their application.

Important Changes for Part-time Employees

The primary pay category for all part-time employees is now PT Ordinary Hours, which represents the minimum hourly rate excluding the 15% part-time allowance.
A new pay category, PT – Ordinary Hours, has been introduced to pay hours worked at the minimum hourly rate plus the 15% part-time allowance, where applicable.
The 15% part-time allowance:
- Is paid during annual leave where the employee works shiftwork.
- Is not paid during other types of paid leave, including personal/carer’s leave, non-working public holidays and other non-annual leave types.
The primary pay category for all pay rate templates (PRTs) has been updated to PT Ordinary Hours.
Leave loading is no longer assigned as a separate pay category and now automatically links to the primary pay category for all leave allowance templates (LATs).

Pay Category Enhancements

Pay Categories Added

Breaks Between Shifts:
New pay categories have been introduced to ensure that ordinary hours worked with less than an 8-hour break between shifts correctly accrue superannuation and leave, while still preserving the appropriate overtime classification.
- Full-Time Employees
  - FT - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 1.5x;
  - FT - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 2x;
  - FT - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 2.5x;
- Part-Time Employees
  - PT - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 1.5x;
  - PT - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 2x;
  - PT - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 2.5x;
- Casual Employees
  - Casual - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 1.5x;
  - Casual - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 2x;
  - Casual - Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts 2.5x.
Hot Work Allowance:
New Fixed Unit pay categories have been introduced for this allowance. These replace the previous Hourly Unit pay categories to prevent double-counting of hours worked.
- Hot Work allowance (between 46 & 54 degrees celsius);
- Hot Work allowance (over 54 degrees celsius).
Hours Worked by Part-time Employees:
A new pay category, PT – Ordinary Hours, has been introduced to pay hours worked at the minimum hourly rate plus the 15% part-time allowance, where applicable.

Pay Category Updated

PT Ordinary Hours

This pay category now represents the minimum hourly rate excluding the 15% part-time allowance.

Pay Categories Retired

The following obsolete pay categories have been retired and marked as DNU (Do Not Use):

*DNU FT - Night Shift;
*DNU PT - Night Shift;
*DNU Casual - Night Shift;
*DNU Hot Work allowance (between 46 & 54 degrees celsius) (hourly unit);
*DNU Hot Work allowance (over 54 degrees celsius) (hourly unit);
*DNU PT Base Rate
*DNU Time in lieu taken.

Work Type Enhancements

Available to define the purpose of work, absence or payments on timesheets, typically used on an irregular basis.

Work Types Added

Work Types	Descriptions
10-hour Shift by Agreement	Choose this work type when an employee is rostered to work a 10-hour shift that has been mutually agreed.
Call Back - Non-cleaning Purposes	Choose this work type when an employee is recalled to work for administrative duties, for the purposes of a disciplinary or counselling interview.
Fulfilment of Minimum Break Between Shifts	Choose this work type when an employee is not required to attend work until the minimum break between shifts has been met and is paid without loss of pay.
Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts	Choose this work type when an employee returns to work without receiving the required minimum break between shifts and a penalty or higher rate applies.
No Minimum Shift Engagement	Choose this work type when a minimum shift engagement does not apply for the work perform.
Not A Broken Shift	Choose this work type when the employee’s shift does not meet the definition of a broken shift.
Travel Time	Choose this work type when an employee is being paid for approved work-related travel time.

Work Types Renamed

Previous Name	New Name	Description
No Meal Break	Interrupted Meal Break	Choose this work type when an employee is interrupted during a meal break and directed to work.

Work Types Retired

The following obsolete work types have been retired and marked as DNU (Do Not Use):

*DNU Broken Shift;
*DNU Family and Domestic Violence Leave taken;
*DNU Personal/Carer's Leave (10 days) Taken;
*DNU Public Holiday Not Worked - PT;
*DNU Unpaid Pandemic Leave.

Shift Condition Enhancements

Available to apply special circumstances to a shift when multiple work types are recorded, typically used on an irregular basis.

Shift Conditions Added

Shift Conditions	Descriptions
10-hour Shift by Agreement	Choose this shift condition when an employee is rostered to work a 10-hour shift that has been mutually agreed.
Fulfilment of Minimum Break Between Shifts	Choose this shift condition when an employee is not required to attend work until the minimum break between shifts has been met and is paid without loss of pay.
Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts	Choose this shift condition when an employee returns to work without receiving the required minimum break between shifts and a penalty or higher rate applies.
No Minimum Shift Engagement	Choose this shift condition when a minimum shift engagement does not apply for the work performed.
Not A Broken Shift	Choose this shift condition when the employee’s shift does not meet the definition of a broken shift.
TIL of OT	Choose this shift condition when an employee takes time off in lieu of overtime hours worked.
Travel Time	Choose this shift condition when an employee is being paid for approved work-related travel time.

Tag Enhancements

Available to categorise work or shifts for regular purposes, such as determining eligibility for recurring penalties or allowances.

Tags Added

Tags	Descriptions
10 Hour Shift Arrangement	Use this tag to indicate that an employee’s shift is part of a 10-hour rostered arrangement.
8 Hour Shift Arrangement	Use this tag to indicate that an employee’s shift is part of an 8-hour rostered arrangement.

Rule Enhancements

Rules have been removed, replaced, or added to improve the automation of pay calculations under the Cleaning Services Award.

Rules Removed

Outdated rules have been removed or are now covered by other rules and configurations.

Rules Removed - All rule sets

Leave

Stop Processing Leave Taken

Allowances

Stop Processing Allowances Worktype
17.8 Toilet Cleaning Allowance (Tag)
17.8 Toilet Cleaning Allowance (Worktype)
17.7 Refuse Collection Allowance (Tag)
17.7 Refuse Collection Allowance (Work Type)

Call Back Minimum Engagement

24.6(a)(i) Minimum engagement for Call Back hours - Monday to Friday
24.6(a)(ii) Minimum engagement for Call Back hours - Saturday
24.6(a)(iii) Minimum engagement for Call Back hours - Sunday

Ordinary Hours

24.1 Ordinary Hours - Monday to Friday
27.2(b) Ordinary Hours - Sunday
27.3 Ordinary Hours - Public Holiday

Interrupted Meal Breaks

26.3 Working during Meal Break (Mon-Sat)
26.3 Working during Meal Break (Sun)
26.3 Working during Meal Break (PH)

Rest Breaks Between Shifts

24.4(b) Minimum 8 hr break between shifts

Other Rules Removed – Full-Time Rule Set

Ordinary Hours

24.1 Ordinary Hours - Monday to Friday
13.1(b)(i) Maximum daily hours

Allowance

17.8 Toilet Cleaning Allowance (Worktype)

Other Rules Removed – Part-Time and Casual Rule Sets

Ordinary Hours

24.2 Ordinary Hours - Monday to Friday

Allowance

17.8 Toilet Cleaning Allowance (Work Type)

New Rules Added

New rules have been added to complete the pay requirements under the award.

New Rules Added - All Rule Sets

Rules	Notes / Descriptions
Ordinary Hours	Applies the employee’s primary pay category to all qualifying ordinary hours worked, ensuring correct base classification before penalties or allowances are applied.
19.6(b) Minimum Engagement - Call-back	Applies minimum engagement hours for call-back.
19.7(c) Minimum Engagement - Call back - Non-cleaning purposes - Monday-Friday	Applies minimum engagement hours for call-back work performed for non-cleaning purposes on weekdays.
19.7(c) Minimum Engagement - Call back - Non-cleaning purposes - Saturday	Applies minimum engagement hours for non-cleaning call-back work performed on Saturdays.
19.7(c) Minimum Engagement - Call back - Non-cleaning purposes - Sunday	Applies minimum engagement hours for non-cleaning call-back work performed on Sundays.
17.2 Broken Shift Assessment - Non-first Part	Identifies non-initial work segments that may form part of a broken shift, where two work periods are separated by a break greater than 1 hour and less than 8 hours.
17.2 Broken Shift Assessment - All Parts	Evaluates all work segments on the same day to determine whether they collectively meet the definition of a broken shift.
17.2 Broken Shift Allowance Assessment - All Parts	Determines eligibility for the broken shift allowance by confirming that at least two qualifying work segments exist on the same day.
17.2 Clearance of Non-qualified Broken Shift Assessment	Clears hours from the broken shift clearing account back to the primary pay category when broken shift criteria are not met.
17.9 Toilet Cleaning (Tag) - Broken Shift	Allocates 1 allowance unit per day for broken shifts involving toilet cleaning, capped at 4.92 units per week, based on tag identification.
17.9 Toilet Cleaning (Work Type) - Broken Shift	Allocates 1 allowance unit per day for broken shifts involving toilet cleaning, capped at 4.92 units per week, based on work type mapping.
17.9 Toilet Cleaning (Tag) - Non-broken Shift	Allocates 1 allowance unit per shift for toilet cleaning work that is not part of a broken shift, capped at 4.92 units per week.
17.9 Toilet Cleaning (Work Type) - Non-broken Shift	Allocates 1 allowance unit per shift for non-broken toilet cleaning work, capped at 4.92 units per week.
17.8 Refuse Collection Allowance (Tag) - Non-broken Shift	Allocates 1 refuse collection allowance unit per shift when work is not part of a broken shift.
17.8 Refuse Collection Allowance (Work Type) - Non-broken Shift	Allocates 1 refuse collection allowance unit per shift using work type mapping for non-broken shifts.
17.8 Refuse Collection Allowance (Tag) - Broken Shift	Allocates 1 refuse collection allowance unit per day when work is performed as part of a broken shift.
17.8 Refuse Collection Allowance (Work Type) - Broken Shift	Allocates 1 refuse collection allowance unit per day for broken shifts using work type mapping.
14.1 Paid Meal Break - Commencing before 6am - Broken Shift	Applies paid meal break entitlements when a broken shift includes early shiftwork starting before 6am.
14.1 Paid Meal Break - Finishing after 6pm - Broken Shift	Applies paid meal break entitlements for broken shifts that finish after 6pm.
14.1 Paid Meal Break - Permanent Night Shift - Broken Shift	Applies paid meal breaks to permanent night shifts that also qualify as broken shifts.
14.1 Paid Meal Break - Weekend - Broken Shift	Applies paid meal break provisions to broken shifts worked on Saturdays or Sundays.
14.1 Paid Meal Break - PH - Broken Shift	Applies paid meal break provisions to broken shifts worked on public holidays.
20.2 Ordinary Hours - Shiftwork (Starting before 6am) - Broken Shift	Applies relevant penalty for early shiftwork that forms part of a broken shift.
20.2 Ordinary Hours - Shiftwork (Ending after 6pm) - Broken Shift	Applies relevant penalty for late shiftwork that forms part of a broken shift.
14.3(a) Interrupted Meal Break	Applies interrupted meal break penalty where an employee is required to work during a meal break.
14.3(a) Interrupted Meal Break - Broken Shift	Applies interrupted meal break penalty specifically to shifts that qualify as broken shifts.
14.4 Minimum Break Between Shifts	Applies the applicable penalty where an employee recommences work without receiving the minimum 8-hour break between consecutive shifts.
14.4 Minimum Break Between Shifts - Broken Shift	Applies the applicable penalty where an employee recommences work as part of a broken shift arrangement without receiving the minimum 8-hour break between consecutive shifts.
Clearance of BS Clearing	Clears all non-qualifying broken shift hours from the clearing account back to the employee’s primary pay category.
20.2 Sunday	Applies applicable penalties for work performed on Sundays.
20.2 Public Holiday Worked	Applies applicable penalties for work performed on a public holiday.
19.6 Call Back	Applies overtime rates to call-back hours.
17.11 Vehicle Allowance - Motor Cycle	Applies the vehicle allowance based on kilometres travelled when an employee uses a motorcycle for work-related travel.
17.10 Meal Allowance	Applies the meal allowance where eligibility criteria are met.

New Rules Added - Full-Time Rule Set

Rules	Notes / Descriptions
13.1(b)(i) Maximum Daily Hours - 7.6 hours/day	Applies overtime to the excess of 7.6 ordinary hours per day
13.1(b)(iii) Maximum Daily Hours - 8 hours/day	Applies overtime to the excess of 8 ordinary hours per day
13.1(b)(iv) Maximum Daily Hours - 10 hours/day (Tag)	Applies overtime to the excess of 10 ordinary hours per day, using tag-based identification.
13.1(b)(iv) Maximum Daily Hours - 10 hours/day (Work Type)	Applies overtime to the excess of 10 ordinary hours per day, using work type-based identification.

New Rule Added - Part-Time Rule Set

Rules	Notes / Descriptions
Hours Worked	Applies 15% part-time allowance to hours worked.

New Rule Added - Casual Rule Set

Rules	Notes / Descriptions
32.1 Public Holiday Not Worked	Ensure non-working public holidays are not paid.

Rules Updated

Existing rules have been updated to ensure pay requirements are applied correctly in accordance with the award.

Rules Updated - All Rule Sets

Rules	Notes / Descriptions
14.2 Unpaid Auto Meal Break (non-shift work Mon-Fri)	Automatically applies an unpaid 30-minute meal break after 4.5 hours worked for eligible non-shiftwork
14.1 Paid Meal Break (Permanent Night Shift - Finishing After 12am and At or Before 8am)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for employees determined as permanent night shiftworkers by tag
17.1 Broken Shift Allowance	Applies the broken shift allowance where work qualifies as a broken shift.
27.1(a) Ordinary Hours - Shiftwork (starting before 6am)	Applies shiftwork penalty to work starting before 6am
27.1(a) Ordinary Hours - Shiftwork (ending after 6pm)	Applies shiftwork penalty to work ending after 6pm
27.1(b) Ordinary Hours - Permanent Night Shift (Tag)	Applies penalty to permanent night shift work identified by tag.
27.2(a) Ordinary Hours - Saturday	Applies Saturday penalty to work performed on Saturdays.
17.2(a) Cold Work Allowance - Worktype	Allocates 1 allowance unit per hour where qualifying cold work is performed for more than one hour, based on work type mapping.
17.2(b)(i) Hot Work Allowance (up to 54 degrees) - Worktype	Allocates 1 allowance unit per hour for qualifying work performed in temperatures up to 54 degrees, based on work type mapping.
17.2(b)(ii) Hot Work Allowance (over 54 degrees) - Worktype	Allocates 1 allowance unit per hour for qualifying work performed in temperatures over 54 degrees, based on work type mapping.
17.2(c)(ii) Height Work Allowance (above 22nd floor) - Worktype	Allocates 1 allowance unit per hour for work performed above the 22nd floor, based on work type mapping.
17.2(c)(i) Height Work Allowance (up to 22nd floor) - Worktype	Allocates 1 allowance unit per hour for work performed up to the 22nd floor, based on work type mapping.
17.5 Leading Hand (Over 20 employees) Allowance (Tag)	Allocates 1 allowance unit per week for supervising over 20 employees, based on tag identification.
17.5 Leading Hand (Over 20 employees) Allowance (Work Type)	Allocates 1 allowance unit per week for supervising over 20 employees, based on work type mapping.
17.5 Leading Hand (11-20 employees) Allowance (Tag)	Allocates 1 allowance unit per week for supervising 11–20 employees, based on tag identification.
17.5 Leading Hand (11-20 employees) Allowance (Work Type)	Allocates 1 allowance unit per week for supervising 11–20 employees, based on work type mapping.
17.5 Leading Hand (1-10 employees) Allowance (Tag)	Allocates 1 allowance unit per week for supervising 1-10 employees, based on tag identification.
17.5 Leading Hand (1-10 employees) Allowance (Work Type)	Allocates 1 allowance unit per week for supervising 1-10 employees, based on work type mapping.
17.4 First Aid Allowance (Tag)	Allocates 1 allowance unit per week where the employee is identified as a first aider, based on tag identification.
17.4 First Aid Allowance (Work Type)	Allocates 1 allowance unit per week where the employee is identified as a first aider, based on work type mapping.
17.3 Vehicle Allowance	Applies the vehicle allowance based on kilometres travelled when an employee uses a car for work-related travel.
19.3 Apply Overtime Penalties	Applies overtime penalty rates based on applicable overtime thresholds.
28.9 Time off in Lieu of Overtime (Tag)	Accrues time off in lieu instead of overtime pay where the TOIL tag is applied.
28.9 Time off in Lieu of Overtime (Worktype)	Accrues time off in lieu instead of overtime pay where the TOIL work type is applied.

Rules Updated - Full-Time Rule Set

Rules	Notes / Descriptions
32.1 Public Holiday Not Worked	Pays the employee at the employee’s base rate of pay for the employee’s ordinary hours of work non-working public holidays.
24.1(a) Maximum 38 weekly hours	Applies to overtime when weekly hours exceed 38, provided employees follow the weekly cycle. Top-up hours for minimum engagement and leave hours are included in the 38-hour calculation.
24.1(b) Maximum 152 hours in a 4 week period	Applies to overtime when hours over a 4-week period exceed 152, provided employees follow the 4-week cycle. Top-up hours for minimum engagement and leave hours are included in the 152-hour calculation.
29.4(b) Annual Leave Loading	Pays the higher of the minimum hourly rate plus leave loading, or any eligible shift penalties.

Rules Updated - Part-Time Rule Set

Rules	Notes / Descriptions
14.1 Paid Auto Meal Break (shift work before 6am)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for work starting before 6am.
14.1 Paid Auto Meal Break (shift work after 6pm)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for work ending after 6pm.
14.1 Paid Auto Meal Break (weekend)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for work performed on Saturday-Sunday.
14.1 Paid Auto Meal Break (shift work PH)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for work performed on public holidays.
24.2(c) Minimum shift engagement (300 sqm or less)	Applies minimum engagement hours when employees handle areas up to 300 square metres.
24.2(d) Minimum shift engagement (301 to 2000 sqm)	Applies minimum engagement hours when employees handle areas greater than 300 and up to 2,000 square metres.
24.2(e) Minimum shift engagement (2001 to 5000 sqm)	Applies minimum engagement hours when employees handle areas greater than 2,000 and up to 5,000 square metres.
24.2(f) Minimum shift engagement (over 5000 sqm)	Applies minimum engagement hours when employees handle areas over 5,000 square metres.
32.1 Public Holiday Not Worked	Pays the employee at the employee’s base rate of pay for the employee’s ordinary hours of work non-working public holidays.
28.6 Maximum hours per day	Applies to overtime when daily hours exceed 7.6. Top-up hours for minimum engagement and leave hours are included in the 7.6-hour calculation.
28.6 Maximum weekly hours	Applies to overtime when weekly hours exceed 38. Top-up hours for minimum engagement and leave hours are included in the 38-hour calculation.

Rules Updated - Casual Rule Set

Rules	Notes / Descriptions
14.1 Paid Auto Meal Break (shift work before 6am)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for work starting before 6am.
14.1 Paid Auto Meal Break (shift work after 6pm)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for work ending after 6pm.
14.1 Paid Auto Meal Break (weekend)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for work performed on Saturday-Sunday.
14.1 Paid Auto Meal Break (shift work PH)	Pays and counts all breaks as paid time for work performed on public holidays.
24.2(c) Minimum shift engagement (300 sqm or less)	Applies minimum engagement hours when employees handle areas up to 300 square metres.
24.2(d) Minimum shift engagement (301 to 2000 sqm)	Applies minimum engagement hours when employees handle areas greater than 300 and up to 2,000 square metres.
24.2(e) Minimum shift engagement (2001 to 5000 sqm)	Applies minimum engagement hours when employees handle areas greater than 2,000 and up to 5,000 square metres.
24.2(f) Minimum shift engagement (over 5000 sqm)	Applies minimum engagement hours when employees handle areas over 5,000 square metres.
24.2(a) Maximum daily hours	Applies to overtime when daily hours exceed 7.6. Top-up hours for minimum engagement and leave hours are included in the 7.6-hour calculation.
Weekly Overtime	Applies to overtime when weekly hours exceed 38. Top-up hours for minimum engagement and leave hours are included in the 38-hour calculation.