The fast food industry in Australia plays a crucial role in providing employment to many individuals, particularly young people. As regulations evolve, understanding the Fast Food Award 2025 is essential for both employees and employers. This guide aims to provide foundational knowledge about the new wage rates, employee rights, and other relevant information under the Fast Food Award 2025.
What is the Fast Food Award 2025?
The Fast Food Award 2025 governs the employment terms and conditions for workers in the fast food industry across Australia. It outlines wage rates, work hours, overtime pay, rosters, and other important aspects to ensure fair treatment of employees. The Fair Work Commission regularly reviews and updates these regulations to reflect current industry standards and cost of living adjustments.
Who Does It Cover?
The award applies to employees in:
- Fast food outlets (e.g., McDonald’s, KFC, Domino’s)
- Takeaway restaurants
- Cafés with fast food services
- Delivery drivers (if employed by the fast food business)
Key Components of the Fast Food Award 2025
New Wage Rates
As of 2025, the Fast Food Award includes updated wage rates that vary based on several factors, including age, experience, and role within the establishment. For example, entry-level employees, typically aged 20 and under, have specific hourly rates that have been adjusted in line with current economic conditions.
Junior Employees: The minimum wage for junior employees (under 21) is structured to gradually increase as they reach certain age milestones.
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees: Wage rates for full-time and part-time workers depend on their classifications as outlined in the award and are typically higher than minimum rates.
*For detailed wage rates, you can refer to resources like the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
How Workstem Helps Fast Food Businesses
Simplify award interpretation and payroll processing with Workstem, the all-in-one workforce management & payroll software designed for every industry. Our system supports 122+ modern awards & 34 EAs, including the Fast Food Award 2025, and keeps you up-to-date with changes in wage rates, penalty rates, and overtime rules.
Managing payroll under the Fast Food Award 2025 can be complex. Workstem’s workforce management software ensures:
- Accurate award interpretation
- Automated penalty rates & overtime calculations
- Compliant payslips & record-keeping
- Seamless integrations with Xero, NetSuite, and more
Choose from our Standard or Advanced plan to suit your business needs, and stay Fair Work compliant with confidence.
Book a free demo with our payroll experts and experience how Workstem can streamline your payroll and workforce operations.
FAQs About the Fast Food Industry Award 2025
Q1: What is the Fast Food Industry Award 2025?
A1: The Fast Food Industry Award 2025 (MA000003) is the legal framework set by Australia’s Fair Work Commission that outlines minimum pay rates, working conditions, and employee entitlements for workers in the fast food sector.
Q2: What are the penalty rates for weekends and public holidays?
A2: Saturday: 125% of base rate; Sunday: 150% of base rate ;Public Holidays: 250% of base rate
Q3: How does casual employment work under this award?
A3: Casual loading: 25% extra pay (no paid leave); Minimum shift length: 3 hours;Flexibility: No guaranteed hours, but employers must follow fair rostering rules.
Q4: How do I know if I’m paying the correct penalty rates?
A4: Penalty rates depend on the day, time, and classification level. Workstem automatically calculates penalty rates based on the latest award conditions to ensure compliance.
Q5: Can Workstem help with casual employee management?
A5: Absolutely. Workstem supports casual loading, dynamic rosters, and real-time tracking to ensure casual workers are paid correctly and fairly under the award.
Q6: Is Workstem compliant with Fair Work and STP2?
A6: Yes, Workstem is fully compliant with Fair Work obligations and Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 (STP2), ensuring seamless reporting to the ATO.
Read More:
Updated Fast Food Industry Award Pay Rates 2024: What You Need to Know
McDonald’s Case Study: Unlocking Fast Food Award Pay Rates
