{"id":2077,"date":"2025-07-26T13:07:29","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T01:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.workstem.com\/au\/blog\/auto-draft\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T13:20:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T01:20:09","slug":"daily-vs-weekly-vs-casual-employment-in-building-and-construction-award-ma000020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.workstem.com\/au\/blog\/daily-vs-weekly-vs-casual-employment-in-building-and-construction-award-ma000020\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily vs Weekly vs Casual Employment in Building and Construction Award (MA000020)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Selecting the right engagement type is very crucial in the <\/span>Building & Construction Award<\/b> (<\/span>MA000020<\/b>). The Award recognises <\/span>daily hire<\/b>, <\/span>full\u2011time weekly hire<\/b>, <\/span>part\u2011time weekly hire<\/b>, and <\/span>casual<\/b> categories\u2014each with different rules for notice, leave, loadings and costing across projects. Ultimately, <\/span>only tradespersons and labourers can be engaged as daily hire, and apprentices must be weekly hire (never daily or casual).<\/b> Misclassification can snowball into leave, allowance and termination underpayments across multi\u2011site builds and labour\u2011hire arrangements. This guide helps employers match roles to the correct classification and pay them correctly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who Can You Engage in Each Category?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Under <\/span>MA000020<\/b>, you may engage employees as daily hire, full\u2011time weekly hire, part\u2011time weekly hire, or casual. <\/span>Daily hire is restricted to tradespersons and labourers<\/b>; it\u2019s not available for apprentices. <\/span>Apprentices must be employed on a weekly hire basis.<\/b> Casual engagement is permitted but must meet the statutory definition of casual (no firm advance commitment). Document the category <\/span>i<\/span>n writing<\/span> at commencement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Which Type Fits Which Worker?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Engagement Type<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Who Can You Use It For?<\/b><\/td>\nNotice to Terminate<\/b><\/td>\nLeave Entitlements<\/b><\/td>\nSpecial Loadings\/Notes<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Daily Hire<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Only tradespersons & labourers. Not apprentices.<\/span><\/td>\n1 day notice (or 1 day\u2019s pay).<\/span><\/td>\nAnnual & personal leave apply (like permanent).<\/span><\/td>\nIncludes \u201cfollow the job\u201d loading built into rate.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Full\u2011Time Weekly Hire<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Avg 38 hrs\/wk. Includes apprentices.<\/span><\/td>\n\n

NES notice periods apply.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Full leave entitlements.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Standard base for most long\u2011term site roles.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Part\u2011Time Weekly Hire<\/b><\/td>\n<38 predictable hrs\/wk; agreed in writing (pattern, days, start\/finish).<\/span><\/td>\nAccording to NES (pro\u2011rata).<\/span><\/td>\n\n

Pro\u2011rata leave.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Clarify if RDOs accrue pro\u2011rata.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Casual<\/b><\/td>\nIrregular\/on\u2011call; min engagements apply. No apprentices.<\/span><\/td>\nNo notice to end shift; limited ongoing guarantees.<\/span><\/td>\nNo paid leave; 25% casual loading in lieu.<\/span><\/td>\n\n

Check minimum 4\u2011hr engagement & weekend mins.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

When Should You Use (or Change) an Engagement Type?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Decide the employment type during onboarding; review regularly. If a \u201ccasual\u201d is rostered in regular, systematic patterns, conversion or reclassification questions arise (and back\u2011pay risk if leave loading was wrong). Daily hire offers flexibility for short projects but still entitled to leave; they can also be terminated with 1 day\u2019s notice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where Does MA000020 Apply?<\/b><\/h2>\n

MA000020<\/b> covers on\u2011site <\/span>general building, civil construction, and metal & engineering construction<\/b> work nation\u2011wide. It does <\/span>not<\/b> apply where another modern award more specifically covers the work (e.g., Electrical, Plumbing, Manufacturing, Mining, Pre\u2011mixed Concrete). Always check coverage clause and classification descriptors when work crosses industries or when subcontract trades operate under a different award.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Getting Classification Right Protects Your Business?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Misclassifying a worker can trigger leave disputes, wrong loadings, and back pay claims across projects. The <\/span>Building & Construction Award (MA000020)<\/b> sets distinct rules for <\/span>daily hire<\/b>, <\/span>weekly hire<\/b> (full\u2011time & part\u2011time), and <\/span>casual<\/b> engagements \u2014 and even restricts who can be daily hire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Workstem Simplifies Building & Construction Award Compliance<\/b><\/h2>\n

Simplify award interpretation and payroll processing with Workstem<\/a><\/span>, the all-in-one workforce management & payroll software<\/a><\/span> designed for every industry. Our system supports 122+ modern awards & 34 EAs, including the Building & Construction Award 2025, and keeps you up-to-date with changes in wage rates, penalty rates, and overtime rules.Workstem offers:<\/p>\n