Minimum Entitlements

Minimum entitlements are the legal floor for pay and conditions — the least an employer can lawfully provide. For dairy, they come from three places: the National Employment Standards, the Pastoral Award 2020 (or the Western Australian state system), and superannuation law.

This page is a map of those minimums and where to find each. Many dairy businesses pay above the floor to attract and keep people — see the Packages section.

Minimum wages

Minimum pay is set by the applicable award, or the WA state minimum. The Pastoral Award 2020 sets rates by classification. For current rates and how classifications work, see the Pay rates and Awards sections.

Maximum hours

The National Employment Standards cap ordinary hours at 38 a week, plus reasonable additional hours. The Pastoral Award 2020 averages these over a four-week period (152 hours). See the National Employment Standards section.

Leave

Annual leave, personal/carer's leave, compassionate leave, family and domestic violence leave, parental leave, community service leave and long service leave are all set by the National Employment Standards (with long service leave under state law). See the National Employment Standards and Natural disaster entitlements sections for detail.

Meal and rest breaks

The Pastoral Award 2020 provides an unpaid meal break and a paid morning rest break. See the Awards section.

Right to disconnect

Employees have the right to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact from an employer outside working hours, where doing so is unreasonable. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains how this applies.

Superannuation

Employers must pay the superannuation guarantee for eligible employees — 12% from 1 July 2025. See the Pay rates section.