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Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022)

Updated

This article provides guidelines about when to use the different work types, shift conditions, and tags included as part of the pre-built Cleaning Services Award 2020 package. For further information about this award, refer to Cleaning Services Award.

Key updates

  Select the current financial year tab to see award updates for the 2026/27 financial year. All previous updates before this time you can find in the historical financial years tab.

Current financial year Historical financial years
July 2026

23rd

We have updated the salaried pay rate template to reflect the updated allowances.

1st

We have updated the award to reflect the Fair Work Commission's National Minimum Wage increase detailed in the Annual Wage Review 2026 decision, and also includes updates to expense-related allowances. You can find more information on the Determinations here and here.

These changes come into effect from the first full pay period on or after the 1st July 2026. Please install these updates after you have finalised your last pay run before the first full pay period beginning on or after the 1st July 2026.

Install and configure the pre-built award package

To read further details on how to install and configure this pre-built award template, please review the detailed help article. While we make every effort to provide a high-quality service, Employment Hero does not accept responsibility for, guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness or up-to-date nature of the service. Before relying on the information, users should carefully evaluate its accuracy, currency, completeness, and relevance for their purposes. You should also obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances.

Special Notes

Timesheets

Timesheets should have start and end times for the rules to apply correctly.

Paid Breaks

Paid rest breaks do not require clocking in or out. Should the client require break times to be recorded, they can refer to this link.

Salaried

Salaried employees can use the “Salaried” employment agreement

Leaves

Leave hours

  • When converting leave to a timesheet, use the employee's standard hours of work. Adjust the start or end time as necessary to trigger any applicable penalty rates.

Leave entitled to earnings above the base rate or above the base rate plus leave loading

  • Leave start and/or end times must align with applicable shift conditions to trigger shift penalties.
Broken Shift

For the purposes of this award, an employee works a broken shift if the employee is required to work a rostered shift on any day in 2 periods of duty (excluding meal breaks and rest breaks) within a maximum spread of 13 hours and with a break between them of longer than one hour.

  • The award is designed to accommodate broken shifts where both periods of work commence on the same day.
  • If parts of a broken shift begin on different days, manual intervention may be required.
  • If a broken shift includes more than 2 periods of duty, involves leave or exceeds 13-hour span, manual intervention or award customisation may be required.
  • A day qualifies for the broken shift allowance and relevant entitlements when it includes two work periods that meet broken shift conditions.
  • A day does not qualify as a broken shift if it includes one period of leave and one work period.
  • If a work period should not contribute to a broken shift calculation, assign the work type Not A Broken Shift to exempt it from the broken shift automation.
    • Example: A broken shift is calculated from 4:00 AM-12:00 PM, and a separate shift is worked from 7:30 PM-4:00 AM the next day.

Relationship between Shift Consolidation, Gaps Between Shifts and Paid Breaks

When multiple shifts are consolidated into a single shift (based on your shift consolidation setup), a break will automatically be inserted to cover the gap between the shifts. Depending on the shift hours, this inserted break may qualify as a paid break.

Example:

  • An employee works from 4:00am-8:00am (first timesheet record) and again from 9:00am-11:00pm (second timesheet record).
  • If shift consolidation is applied within 1 hour, these two shifts will be treated as a single shift.
  • The 1-hour gap (8:00am-9:00am) will be inserted as a break.
  • This gap will be treated as a paid break.

Clauses Requiring Customisation

The clauses listed in the table below were not included in the pre-built award. If you need any of these clauses, creating or customising the award is necessary.

 

Clauses

Conditions
Breaks - Non-shiftworkers 14.2(b)(i) An employee cannot be required to work for more than 5 hours in an emergency without a meal break.
Supported wage system 15.4

Need to create Pay Rate Templates and Employment Agreements.

For employees who, because of the effects of a disability, are eligible for a supported wage, see Schedule D—Supported Wage System.
National training wage 15.5(a)

Need to create Pay Rate Templates and Employment Agreements.

Schedule E to the Miscellaneous Award 2020 sets out minimum wage rates and conditions for employees undertaking traineeships.
Substitution of public holidays by agreement 26.2
  • An employer and employee may agree to substitute another day for a day that would otherwise be a public holiday under the NES.
  • An employer and employee may agree to substitute another part-day for a part-day that would otherwise be a part-day public holiday under the NES.
Salaried/Individual flexibility arrangements 5

5.1 Despite anything else in this award, an employer and an individual employee may agree to vary the application of the terms of this award relating to any of the following in order to meet the genuine needs of both the employee and the employer:

(a) arrangements for when work is performed; or

(b) overtime rates; or

(c) penalty rates; or

(d) allowances; or

(e) annual leave loading.

Conditions of pay

Ordinary hours of work and overtime

 

Clauses

Conditions
Span Of Ordinary Hours

13.1, 13.2







 

13.5, 10.2

Full-time -  One of the following ways:

  • 7.6 ordinary hours x 5 days/week; or
  • 152 ordinary hours/4 weeks on a rostered day off basis (12 rostered days off/12 months); or
  • 8 ordinary hours x 19 days/month; or
  • 10 ordinary hours on any day or days by agreement.

Part-time/Casual

  • 7.6 ordinary hours x 5 days/week; or
  • 38 ordinary hours/week.
Maximum Daily Ordinary Hours

19.2

 

13.1(b)(i)

13.1(b)(iii)

13.1(b)(iv)

13.5

Overtime applies after/to:

  • Full-time - Excess of one of the following ways:
    • 7.6 hours x 5 days/week; or
    • 8 hours x 19 days/month; or
    • 10 hours on any day or days by agreement.
  • Part-time/Casual - Excess of:
    • 7.6 hours
    • 5 days/week
Maximum Ordinary Hours Over A Period

19.2

13.1


 

13.5, 19.2(b)

Overtime applies after/to:

  • Full-time - Excess of one of the following ways:
    • 38 ordinary hours/week; or
    • 152 ordinary hours/4 weeks.
  • Part-time/Casual - Excess of:
    • 38 ordinary hours/week.
Overtime Penalties

19.3
  • Monday-Saturday: First 2 hours at 150% of minimum hourly rate, then 200% of minimum hourly rate thereafter.
  • Sunday: 200% of minimum hourly rate;
  • Public holiday: 250% of minimum hourly rate.

Note: Part-time allowance not applicable on overtime rates.
Time off instead of payment for overtime (TIL). 

19.5(d)

 The period of time off that an employee is entitled to take is the same as the number of overtime hours worked.
Penalties

 

Clauses

Conditions
Part-time Allowance

10.2


 

21.3(a)(iii)

An allowance of 15% in addition to the minimum hourly rate;

Applicable on ordinary time earnings only;

Payable on annual leave.
Casual loading

11.2

 A loading of 25% in addition to the minimum hourly rate
Penalty rates 

20.2
  • Monday to Friday shift that starts before 6.00 am or finishes after 6.00 pm excluding a public holiday
    • Full-time: 115% of the minimum hourly rate
    • Part-time: 130% of the minimum hourly rate
    • Casual: : 140% of the minimum hourly rate.
  • Finishing after 12am and at or before 8am - Permanent night shift:
    • Full-time and Part-time: 130% of the minimum hourly rate
    • Casual: 155% of the minimum hourly rate.
  • Midnight Friday to midnight Saturday
    • Full-time: 150% of the minimum hourly rate
    • Part-time: 165% of the minimum hourly rate
    • Casual: : 175% of the minimum hourly rate.
  • Midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday
    • Full-time: 200% of the minimum hourly rate
    • Part-time: 215% of the minimum hourly rate
    • Casual: : 225% of the minimum hourly rate.

Note: Part-time allowance and Casual loading included.
Public Holidays

20.2
  • Full-time: 250% of the minimum hourly rate
  • Part-time: 265% of the minimum hourly rate
  • Casual: : 275% of the minimum hourly rate.

Note: Part-time allowance and Casual loading included.
Public Holidays Not Worked

26.1

Full-time/Part-time: 

  • Paid at ordinary hourly rate;

Casual: 

  • Not applicable.
Work Conditions

 

Clauses

Conditions
Paid Meal Break - Shiftwork

14.1
  • A shift that attracts a shift penalty under clause 20 is entitled to a paid meal break per shift.
  • The meal break must be taken not earlier than 4 hours, and not later than 5 hours, after the start of the shift.
  • Paid meal breaks and rest breaks are counted as time worked.
Auto Meal Breaks - Non-shiftwork

14.2
  • Non-paid meal break applies to employees not entitled to a paid meal break under clause 14.1.
  • A non-paid 30-minute break is automatically deducted after 4.5 hours worked if there is no record of break time on timesheet.
Interrupted Meal Break

14.3(a)

 Paid at overtime rates where an employee is interrupted during a meal break and directed to work, until the meal break is resumed.
Minimum Break Between Shifts

14.4

 A minimum break of 8 consecutive hours between shifts, otherwise all work is paid at overtime rates until an 8-hour break is taken.
Minimum shift engagement 

13.5(c)







19.6(b)

19.7(c)
  • Part-Time and Casual
    • Cleaning area ≤ 300m2: 1 hour;
    • 300m2 < cleaning area ≤ 2,00m2: 2 hours;
    • 2,000m2 < cleaning area ≤ 5,00m2: 3 hours;
    • 5,000m2 < cleaning area: 4 hours.
  • Call back: 2 hours;
  • Call back - Non-cleaning purposes:
    • Monday-Friday: 2 hours;
    • Saturday: 3 hours;
    • Sunday: 4 hours.
Higher Duties

15.3
  • Working 4 or more hours: higher rate for the whole day;
  • Otherwise: higher rate for the time worked.
Broken Shifts

17.2(a)
  • A rostered shift on any day in 2 periods of duty (excluding meal breaks and rest breaks);
  • Span of ordinary hours: 13 hours;
  • Break between duty periods: Longer than 1 hour.
Travel Time

17.12

 The appropriate shift rate for all time spent travelling
Call Back

19.6
  • Recalled to work overtime at any workplace of the employer after leaving the employer’s premises;
  • Overtime rates applied.
Call Back - Non-cleaning Purposes

19.7
  • Returned to work for administrative duties or for a disciplinary or counselling interview;
  • Not applicable to a duty continuous with finishing or beginning ordinary working time or overtime (subject to a reasonable meal break);
  • Not applicable for any form of paid training;
  • Appropriate rate for ordinary hours or applicable penalty rate applied.
Annual Leave Loading

21.3(b)

 The higher of either leave loading or shift penalties.
Paid Family And Domestic Violence Leave

25

 Paid as if the employee had not taken the period of leave
Allowances

 

Clauses

Conditions
Broken Shift Allowance

17.2

 A daily allowance with a weekly limit where an employee works broken shifts
Cold Work Allowance

17.3

 An hourly allowance where an employee is required to work for more than 1 hour in a place or places, where the temperature is reduced by artificial means to below 0°C
Hot Work Allowance

17.4

An hourly allowance where an employee is required to work for more than 1 hour in a place or places, where the temperature is raised by artificial means to 46°C and above.

Pay rates vary by ranges of temperature:

  • 46°C-54°C;
  • Excess of 54°C.
Height Allowance

17.5

An allowance per hour or part thereof where an employee is engaged in cleaning from a swing scaffold, boatswain’s chair or other similar device on the outside of multi-storied buildings. Pay rates vary by floors:

  • Up to the 22nd floor above ground level;
  • Above the 22nd floor above ground level.
First Aid Allowance

17.6

21.3(a)(iii)

A weekly allowance where a qualified employee is appointed to perform first aid duty.

This allowance is payable on annual leave.
Leading Hand Allowance

17.7






 

21.3(a)(iii)

A weekly allowance where an employee is placed in charge of other employees. Pay rates vary by the number of employees in charge of:

  • Up to 10;
  • 11–20;
  • More than 20.

This allowance is payable on annual leave.
Refuse Collection Allowance

17.8

 A fixed allowance per shift to an employee whose major portion of their time is to collect, dispose of or sort refuse, or feed an incinerator, furnace or compactor
Toilet Cleaning Allowance

17.9

 A fixed allowance per shift with a weekly limit where an employee is to clean toilets for the major portion of any day or shift
Meal Allowance

17.10

 A fixed allowance per meal where an employee works an additional 2 hours or more and is not provided meals
Vehicle Allowance

17.11

A fixed allowance per kilometre travelled where an employee agrees to use their own motor vehicle for work. Pay rates vary by means of transport:

  • Motor car;
  • Motorcycle.

Work types

Work types are a description of the kind of shift you are working, and you select them when you record a timesheet. The following is a list of work types employees can select on their timesheet, and the meaning of each item.

A - F
*DNU Broken Shift Please do not use this work type. This was used in the past for broken shifts and is kept for records only.
*DNU Family and Domestic Violence Leave taken Please do not use this work type. This was used in the past for Family and Domestic Violence Leave and is kept for records only.
*DNU Personal/Carer's Leave (10 days) Taken Please do not use this work type. This was used in the past for Personal/Carer’s Leave (10 days) and is kept for records only.
*DNU Public Holiday Not Worked - PT Please do not use this work type. This was used in the past to pay Part Time staff for a public holiday not worked and is kept for records only.
*DNU Unpaid Meal Break Please do not use this work type. This was used in the past for unpaid meal breaks and is kept for records only.
*DNU Unpaid Pandemic Leave Please do not use this work type. This was used in the past for unpaid pandemic leave and is kept for records only.
10-hour Shift by Agreement Choose this work type when an employee can work up to 10 ordinary hours per shift as mutually agreed in advance.
Annual Leave Taken Choose this work type when an employee takes approved annual leave.
Broken shift Choose this work type when an employee is rostered to work in two periods of duty within a maximum spread of 13 hours, with a break longer than one hour between the two periods
Call Back Choose this work type when an employee is called back to work outside their normal hours.
Call Back - Non-cleaning Purposes Choose this work type when an employee is called back for meetings or admin tasks, not cleaning work.
Cold Work Allowance Choose this work type when an employee works for more than one hour in a location where the temperature is artificially reduced below 0°C.
Compassionate Leave Taken Choose this work type when an employee takes approved compassionate leave.
First Aid Allowance Choose this work type when a trained employee with current first aid qualifications is formally appointed to perform first aid duties.
Fulfilment of Minimum Break Between Shifts Choose this work type when an employee is paid while taking the required minimum break between shifts.
G - L
Height Work (above 22nd floor) Choose this work type when an employee cleans the exterior of multi-story buildings above the 22nd floor using a swing scaffold, boatswain’s chair, or similar device.
Height Work (up to 22nd floor) Choose this work type when an employee cleans the exterior of multi-story buildings up to the 22nd floor using a swing scaffold, boatswain’s chair, or similar device.
Hot Work Allowance (over 54 degrees) Choose this work type when an employee works for more than one hour in a location where the temperature is artificially raised above 54°C.
Hot Work Allowance (up to 54 degrees) Choose this work type when an employee works for more than one hour in a location where the temperature is artificially raised to between 46°C and 54°C.
Interrupted Meal Break Choose this work type when an employee’s meal break is interrupted.
Leading Hand (over 20 employees) Choose this work type when an employee supervises more than 20 employees.
Leading Hand (up to 10 employees) Choose this work type when an employee supervises up to 10 employees.
Leading Hand (up to 20 employees) Choose this work type when an employee supervises up to 20 employees.
Leave Without Pay Taken Choose this work type when an employee takes approved unpaid leave.
Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts Choose this work type when an employee returns to work without the required minimum break between shifts.
Long Service Leave Taken Choose this work type when an employee takes approved long service leave.
M - R
Meal Allowance Choose this work type when an employee is required to work an extra two hours without prior notice and is not provided with a meal.
Motor Cycle Allowance Choose this work type to record kilometres an employee travels using their own motorcycle for work duties.
Motor Vehicle Allowance Choose this work type to record kilometres an employee travels using their own motor vehicle for work duties.
No Minimum Shift Engagement Choose this work type when minimum shift hours do not apply.
Not A Broken Shift Choose this work type when a shift is not considered a broken shift.
Paid Community Service Leave Taken Choose this work type when an employee takes paid community service leave.
Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave Choose this work type when an employee takes paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave.
Personal/Carer's Leave Taken Choose this work type when an employee takes approved personal or carer’s leave.
Public Holiday Not Worked Choose this work type when an employee is paid for a public holiday they did not work.
Refuse Collection Choose this work type when an employee spends most of their time on refuse collection, disposal, sorting, or feeding incinerators, furnaces, or compactors.
S - Z
TIL of OT Choose this work type when overtime is banked as Time in Lieu instead of being paid.
Time in Lieu Taken Choose this work type when an employee takes Time in Lieu.
Toilet Cleaning Choose this work type when an employee spends most of their day or shift cleaning toilets.
Travel Time Choose this work type when an employee is paid for approved work travel time.

Shift conditions

Shift Conditions are further details you can add to a shift where more than one condition applies to your shift. Shift conditions are selected when you edit a timesheet record, or when clocking on using the ClockMeIn Time and Attendance or Swag apps. The following is a list of Shift Conditions employees can select on their timesheet, and the meaning of each item.

A - F
10-hour Shift by Agreement Choose this shift condition when an employee can work up to 10 ordinary hours per shift as mutually agreed in advance.
Cold Work Allowance Choose this shift condition when an employee works for more than one hour in a location where the temperature is artificially reduced below 0°C.
First Aid Allowance Choose this shift condition when a trained employee with current first aid qualifications is formally appointed to perform first aid duties.
Fulfilment of Minimum Break Between Shifts Choose this shift condition when an employee is paid while taking the required minimum break between shifts.
G - L
Height Work (above 22nd floor) Choose this shift condition when an employee cleans the exterior of multi-story buildings above the 22nd floor using a swing scaffold, boatswain’s chair, or similar device.
Height Work (up to 22nd floor) Choose this shift condition when an employee cleans the exterior of multi-story buildings up to the 22nd floor using a swing scaffold, boatswain’s chair, or similar device.
Hot Work Allowance (over 54 degrees) Choose this shift condition when an employee works for more than one hour in a location where the temperature is artificially raised above 54°C.
Hot Work Allowance (up to 54 degrees) Choose this shift condition when an employee works for more than one hour in a location where the temperature is artificially raised to between 46°C and 54°C.
Leading Hand (over 20 employees) Choose this shift condition when an employee supervises more than 20 employees.
Leading Hand (up to 10 employees) Choose this shift condition when an employee supervises up to 10 employees.
Leading Hand (up to 20 employees) Choose this shift condition when an employee supervises up to 20 employees.
Less Than Minimum Break Between Shifts Choose this shift condition when an employee returns to work without the required minimum break between shifts.
M - R
No Minimum Shift Engagement Choose this shift condition when minimum shift hours do not apply.
Not A Broken Shift Choose this shift condition when a shift is not considered a broken shift.
Refuse Collection Choose this shift condition when an employee spends most of their time on refuse collection, disposal, sorting, or feeding incinerators, furnaces, or compactors.
S - Z
TIL of OT Choose this shift condition when overtime is banked as Time in Lieu instead of being paid.
Toilet Cleaning Choose this shift condition when an employee spends most of their day or shift cleaning toilets.
Travel Time Choose this shift condition when an employee is paid for approved work travel time.

Tags

Employee Tags are specific conditions typically related to the employee’s agreement. These are often conditions negotiated and agreed between the employer and the employee, or unique characteristics of the employee’s role. Payment of these provisions is usually of a recurring and ongoing nature.

A - F
*DNU 7 day shiftworker Please do not use this tag. It was previously used for accrual of extra week of annual leave for shiftworkers via rules.
2001 - 5000 sqm Assign this tag for part-time or casual employees at a location with 2001–5000 m² total cleaning area; sets a minimum engagement of 3 hours.
301 - 2000 sqm Assign this tag for part-time or casual employees at a location with up to 2000 m² total cleaning area; sets a minimum engagement of 2 hours.
5001+ sqm Assign this tag for part-time or casual employees at a location with over 5000 m² total cleaning area; sets a minimum engagement of 4 hours.
8 hour shift arrangement Assign this tag to indicate that an employee’s shifts are rostered for up to 8 ordinary hours.
10 hour shift arrangement Assign this tag to indicate that an employee’s shifts are rostered for up to 10 ordinary hours.
First Aider Assign this tag for an employee who holds a current first aid qualification and is formally appointed to perform first aid duties.
G - L
Leading Hand A Assign this tag for an employee permanently in charge of up to 10 employees.
Leading Hand B Assign this tag for an employee permanently in charge of up to 20 employees.
Leading Hand C Assign this tag for an employee permanently in charge of more than 20 employees.
M - R
Permanent Night Shift Assign this tag for a night shift that does not rotate or alternate with other shifts or day work.
Refuse Collector Assign this tag for an employee who spends most of their time on refuse collection, disposal, sorting, or feeding incinerators, furnaces, or compactors.
S - Z
TIL of OT Assign this tag when an employee and employer agree to accrue Time in Lieu instead of being paid for overtime worked.
Toilet Cleaner Assign this tag for an employee who spends most of their day or shift cleaning toilets.

System Limitations

Please note that rules cannot interpret or calculate the clauses below due to platform limitations and will require manual intervention or a workaround.

Clause 19.5 Time Off instead of Payment for Overtime

e) Time off must be taken:

(i) within the period of 6 months after the overtime is worked; and

(ii) at a time or times within that period of 6 months agreed by the employee and employer.

(f) If the employee requests at any time, to be paid for overtime covered by an agreement under clause 19.5 but not taken as time off, the employer must pay the employee for the overtime, in the next pay period following the request, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

(g) If time off for overtime that has been worked is not taken within the period of 6 months mentioned in clause 19.5(e), the employer must pay the employee for the overtime, in the next pay period following those 6 months, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

Further information

Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) - Accrual and Payout
  • TOIL accrues hour-for-hour with overtime worked (e.g. 2 overtime hours = 2 TOIL hours).
  • If TOIL is paid out instead of taken, it must be paid at the overtime rate that applied when the overtime was worked.
  • This also applies on termination: Unused TOIL must be paid out at the correct rate.

To ensure correct payout:

  • Manually record the applicable overtime rate when TOIL is accrued. Add this in the Notes section of the leave accrual line in the pay run.
  • Run the Pay Run Audit Report to identify when TOIL was accrued and confirm the overtime rate.
  • Run the Employee Payment History Report to check if any TOIL has been taken or already paid.
  • Calculate the remaining TOIL balance and pay it out using the correct overtime rate.
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