Sydney Penalty Rates 2026: Casual Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday Pay (Construction vs Warehouse)
Casual labourer on a Sydney site or in a warehouse? Saturday, Sunday and public holiday penalty rates under MA000020 and MA000084, with 1 July 2026 award dollar examples.
Casual penalty rates in Sydney depend on your award. Construction (MA000020) and warehouse (MA000084) are not the same on Saturday:
| Day (casual) | Construction MA000020 | Warehouse MA000084 |
|---|---|---|
| Mon–Fri ordinary | 125% | 125% |
| Saturday | 175% first 2 hrs, then 225% (all 225% after 12 noon) | 175% all day |
| Sunday | 225% | 225% |
| Public holiday | 275% | 275% |
| Minimum paid | 4 hrs per casual engagement | 4 hrs per casual start |
Percentages are of the base hourly rate, for the construction and warehouse awards only. Other awards and enterprise agreements can differ. Source: Fair Work award text, rates effective 1 July 2026.
A Sunday pour. Eight hours in the heat. Then the payslip lands at the same hourly rate as Tuesday.
Under the construction award, a casual's Sunday is 225% of base. Tuesday is 125%.
Paid Tuesday rates for a Sunday? You're short one full base rate, every single hour.On the 2026 CW2 minimum, that gap is $28.62 an hour. Over 8 hours it's $228.96 gone from one shift.
This guide gives you the real percentages, the 1 July 2026 dollar figures, and how to check your payslip in ten minutes.
Table of Contents
- Calculate your penalty rate pay
- Which award sets your weekend pay?
- What are the exact penalty rate percentages?
- What do the 2026 numbers look like in dollars?
- Do labour hire agencies have to pass penalty rates through?
- What minimum hours apply on weekends and public holidays?
- How do you check your payslip?
Calculate your penalty rate pay
Pick the day, enter your hours, and see the award minimum in seconds. It's preloaded with the 2026 CW2 base of $28.62/hr (MA000020, from 1 July 2026).
The calculator uses the permanent multipliers from MA000020 (150%, 200%, 250%). If you're casual, add 25% of your base rate for every hour on top of its result. That's exactly how the award builds 175%, 225% and 275%.
Worker penalty pay — what day is it?
Enter base rate and hours worked. Penalty multipliers from MA000020 apply automatically.
Construction figure, plus all-purpose allowances. Warehouse workers: swap in your MA000084 grade rate (Storeworker G1 is $27.08/hr from 1 July 2026). Warehouse Saturday is a flat 150% permanent, so use the table below rather than the calculator's Saturday split.
Which award sets your weekend pay?
Most casual labourers in Sydney sit under one of two awards.
- Construction sites: the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, MA000020. It covers labourers, concreters, formworkers, scaffolders, plant operators and more.
- Warehouses and distribution centres: the Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020, MA000084. It covers storeworkers, pick-packers and forklift drivers in storage businesses.
Both awards also cover labour hire workers placed in those industries. The agency in the middle doesn't change which award applies.
Both were lifted 4.75% from 1 July 2026 under the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review 2025-26.
What base rates do the examples use?
The examples below use two real 2026 award minimums:
- Construction: CW/ECW 2 at $28.62/hr ($1,087.50/wk), MA000020 cl.19.1, from 1 July 2026.
- Warehouse: Storeworker Grade 1 on commencement at $27.08/hr, MA000084, from 1 July 2026.
One honest caveat for construction: the award's "ordinary hourly rate" includes all-purpose allowances, such as the industry allowance in cl.22 ($67.15/wk for general building in 2026). Penalty percentages apply to that higher figure. So every construction dollar figure here is a floor, plus all-purpose allowances.
Your base rate is only the starting point. Neither award lets Saturday, Sunday or public holiday work be paid like a weekday. The loading is set by law, whatever anyone promises you verbally.
What are the exact penalty rate percentages?
Here's the bit most workers get wrong: the 25% casual loading is added to the penalty, not multiplied by it.
Both awards spell this out. MA000020 cl.12.5 says where the penalty is 150% a casual gets 175%, and where it's 200% a casual gets 225%. Cl.12.6 sets casual public holidays at 275%.
The casual loading stacks on top: 150 becomes 175, 200 becomes 225, 250 becomes 275.What does "time and a half" actually mean?
On site you'll hear names, not percentages. 150% and "time and a half" are the same thing. Here's the translation:
| Percentage of base | What it's called on site | Where it applies (MA000020 / MA000084) |
|---|---|---|
| 125% | Time and a quarter | Casual ordinary hours, Mon–Fri (25% casual loading, MA000020 cl.12.4, MA000084 cl.11.2) |
| 150% | Time and a half | Permanent: first 2 hrs of weekday overtime; construction Saturday first 2 hrs; warehouse Saturday ordinary hours |
| 175% | Time and three quarters | Casual: first 2 hrs of weekday overtime; construction Saturday first 2 hrs; warehouse Saturday all day |
| 200% | Double time | Permanent: Sunday; construction Saturday after 2 hrs or after 12 noon; overtime after 2 hrs |
| 225% | Double time and a quarter | Casual: Sunday; construction Saturday after 2 hrs or after 12 noon; overtime after 2 hrs |
| 250% | Double time and a half | Permanent: public holidays (MA000020 cl.30.1(e), MA000084 cl.22.3) |
| 275% | Double time and three quarters | Casual: public holidays (MA000020 cl.12.6, MA000084 Sched B.2.1) |
Source: Fair Work award text, rates effective 1 July 2026.
These figures are for two awards only: construction (MA000020) and warehouse (MA000084). Other awards, like hospitality, cleaning or retail, set different penalty rates. An enterprise agreement (EBA) on your site can also pay differently, usually more. Check your own award or EBA in the Fair Work PACT.
Construction vs warehouse, side by side
| Criteria | Construction casual (MA000020) | Warehouse casual (MA000084) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon–Fri ordinary hours | 125% | 125% |
| Mon–Fri overtime | 175% first 2 hrs, then 225% (cl.12.5, 29.4) | 175% first 2 hrs, then 225% (cl.21.1(d)) |
| Saturday | 175% first 2 hrs, then 225%; all 225% after 12 noon (cl.30.1) | 175% all ordinary hours (cl.22.1, Sched B.2.1) |
| Sunday | 225% (cl.30.1(d), 12.5) | 225% (cl.22.2, Sched B.2.1) |
| Public holiday | 275% (cl.12.6) | 275% (cl.22.3, Sched B.2.1) |
| Casual minimum | 4 hrs per engagement (cl.12.3) | 4 hrs every start (cl.11.1) |
Highlighted cells = best option per criterion
Permanent workers get the same table minus 25 points: 150%, 200%, 250%.
Why the old "Sat 50%, Sun 100%" shorthand misleads
On a construction site, Saturday is only time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours. After that, and after 12 noon, it's double time (MA000020 cl.30.1(a)-(b)).
In a warehouse, Saturday ordinary hours are a flat 150% for permanents and 175% for casuals (MA000084 cl.22.1).
And the public holiday rate for permanents is 250% in total, not 250% extra. Shorthand like "PH 250%" has confused plenty of people on both sides of the payslip.
What do the 2026 numbers look like in dollars?
These are award minimums from 1 July 2026, before tax. Screenshot them.
Hourly rates, casual
| Day | Construction CW2 ($28.62 base) | Warehouse Storeworker G1 ($27.08 base) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon–Fri ordinary (125%) | $35.78 | $33.85 |
| 175% | $50.09 | $47.39 |
| 225% | $64.40 | $60.93 |
| 275% (public holiday) | $78.71 | $74.47 |
Warehouse figures are taken straight from MA000084 Schedule B.2.1 (from 1 July 2026). Construction figures are $28.62 x the percentage, plus all-purpose allowances.
Construction Saturday: 6 hours from 7am
You're called in for a Saturday pour, 7am to 1pm.
| Hours | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 hrs (7–9am) | $50.09 (175%) | $100.18 |
| Next 4 hrs (9am–1pm) | $64.40 (225%) | $257.60 |
| Total gross | $357.78 |
Plus all-purpose allowances, and the fares and travel allowance ($22.41/day in 2026, MA000020 Sched B.2.1) where it applies.
Sunday: 8 hours
| Award | Calculation | Gross |
|---|---|---|
| Construction CW2 | $64.40 x 8 | $515.20 |
| Warehouse G1 | $60.93 x 8 | $487.44 |
Public holiday: the 4-hour minimum
Even if the job wraps in 2 hours, you're paid for 4 hours.
| Award | Calculation | Gross (minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| Construction CW2 | $78.71 x 4 | $314.84 |
| Warehouse G1 | $74.47 x 4 | $297.88 |
What about super? 🔍
Super is 12% from 1 July 2025, but it's owed on ordinary time earnings. The ATO excludes overtime from that.
So penalty rates on ordinary hours (like a warehouse Saturday) attract super. Hours the award treats as overtime generally don't. Check your super line against your ordinary hours, not your gross.
For the full picture on tax and take-home, read our Sydney labourer pay guide and PAYG vs ABN after tax.
Do labour hire agencies have to pass penalty rates through?
Yes. Every dollar of it.
Leap is a labour hire company. We place labourers and warehouse hands with host businesses across Sydney. The award applies to our workers exactly as it applies to the host's own staff.
The award floor
Fair Work is plain about it: employees covered by an award are entitled to its minimum pay rates, including penalty rates and allowances. An agency can't absorb your Sunday loading into a flat all-week rate that pays less than the award would.
Same Job Same Pay
The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023 created regulated labour hire arrangement orders.
Where the Fair Work Commission makes one, the agency must pay at least the host's "full rate of pay". That includes loadings, overtime and penalty rates under the host's enterprise agreement.
No order on your site? The award minimums in this guide still apply in full.
What minimum hours apply on weekends and public holidays?
Penalty rates aren't the only protection. Minimum engagement rules stop you being sent home after 45 minutes and paid for 45 minutes.
Construction (MA000020)
- Any casual engagement: at least 4 hours paid, plus fares and travel allowance (cl.12.3).
- Saturday overtime: at least 3 hours of work or pay (cl.30.2(a)).
- Easter Saturday: paid at 250% for permanents, with a 4-hour minimum (cl.30.1(c), 30.2(b)).
- Sunday overtime: at least 4 hours (cl.30.2(c)).
- Public holidays: minimum payment of 4 hours (cl.30.2(d)).
Warehouse (MA000084)
- Any casual start: at least 4 hours (cl.11.1).
- Saturday overtime: 3 hours; Sunday overtime: 4 hours (cl.22.1(b), 22.2(b)).
- Public holidays: at least 4 hours (cl.22.3(b)).
So if the concrete truck is late and the foreman sends you home at 8:45am, a casual still walks away with 4 hours' pay.
Shiftworkers: both awards have separate shift clauses (MA000020 cl.17). If you're on a rotating roster, run your shifts through PACT rather than this table.
How do you check your payslip?
You've got the numbers. Now hold them against the payslip in your inbox. 📋
Red flags ⚠️
- Same hourly rate every day. No difference between Tuesday and Sunday means something's wrong.
- One blended figure. Fair Work requires payslips to show any penalty or loading rate, the hours at it and the amount paid.
- "All-in" rate. Only lawful if it pays at least what the award would for your actual hours. Verify it yourself in PACT.
Where to go if something's wrong
- Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool: your exact entitlements in under 10 minutes.
- Fair Work Ombudsman: free advice and underpayment reports on 13 13 94.
- Fair Work pay guides: the current MA000020 and MA000084 rates, in black and white.
Keep this checklist. Construction casual Saturday is 175% then 225%. Warehouse casual Saturday is 175%. Sunday is 225% in both. Public holidays are 275%. Casuals get a 4-hour minimum. Super is 12% of ordinary time earnings. If a box isn't ticked, ask, then call Fair Work on 13 13 94.
Want weekend shifts paid right?
Leap places casual labourers on sites and warehouse hands in distribution centres across Sydney. Award rates and penalty loadings come with every shift.
Browse open labourer jobs in Sydney or warehouse jobs in Sydney, or register to work with Leap.
Know your rate before Saturday, not after payday.Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Saturday penalty rate for casual construction workers in Sydney?+
Under MA000020, a casual gets 175% of the ordinary hourly rate for the first 2 hours of Saturday work and 225% after that (cl.12.5 and 30.1). Everything after 12 noon is 225%. The minimum payment is 3 hours, and casuals have a 4-hour minimum per engagement.
What is the Sunday penalty rate for casual labourers under the Building and Construction Award?+
Casuals are paid 225% of the ordinary hourly rate for all Sunday work under MA000020 cl.12.5. That is the 200% Sunday penalty plus the 25% casual loading. On the CW2 minimum of $28.62/hr (1 July 2026), that is $64.40/hr plus all-purpose allowances.
What is the public holiday penalty rate for casuals on a Sydney construction site?+
Casuals working a public holiday get 275% of the ordinary hourly rate under MA000020 cl.12.6. Permanent workers get 250% (cl.30.1(e)). Public holiday work carries a minimum payment of 4 hours.
Are warehouse penalty rates different from construction?+
Yes. Under the Storage Services and Wholesale Award (MA000084), casual day workers get a flat 175% on Saturday, 225% on Sunday and 275% on public holidays. There is no 2-hour split on Saturday. A casual Storeworker Grade 1 on commencement earns $47.39/hr on Saturday from 1 July 2026.
Is 150% the same as time and a half?+
Yes. 150% of the base hourly rate is what workers call time and a half. 175% is time and three quarters, 200% is double time and 250% is double time and a half. These figures apply to the construction (MA000020) and warehouse (MA000084) awards; other awards and enterprise agreements can differ.
Is the 25% casual loading added on top of the penalty rate?+
Yes, it is added, not multiplied. Both awards build casual penalty rates by adding the 25% loading to the permanent rate: 150% becomes 175%, 200% becomes 225%, and 250% becomes 275% of the base hourly rate.
Does Same Job Same Pay mean a labour hire agency must pass through penalty rates?+
Where a regulated labour hire arrangement order is in force under the Fair Work Act, the agency must pay at least the host's "full rate of pay", which includes penalty rates, loadings and overtime. Without an order, the award minimums still apply in full.
How do I check if I am being paid the correct penalty rates?+
Run your hours through the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT). Your payslip must show each penalty rate, the hours worked at it and the amount paid. If the numbers don't match, call the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94.
