Minimum wages and conditions

The Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 establishes a base level of wages and employment conditions for almost all Western Australian employees

The Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 (MCE Act) is generally implied into most State awards, enterprise agreements, employer-employee agreements and contracts of employment.

A provision in an award, agreement or contract that is less favourable to the employee than a minimum condition generally has no effect. 

Minimum Conditions of Employment Act Summary [PDF 79kb]

The MCE Act provides minimum entitlements for:

• Minimum wage rates
• Reasonable hours of work
• Casual loading
• Annual leave
• Sick leave
• Carers leave
• Bereavement leave
• Parental leave
• Public holidays
• Significant effect and redundancy
• Record keeping requirements

Exclusions to the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act

Certain types of employees are excluded from the leave provisions of the MCE Act.  However, these types of employees may be covered by an award or agreement that provides an entitlement to certain wages and conditions.  These exclusions are:

• disabled persons working in a supported employment service;
• persons paid wholly by commission or piece rates (per item);
• volunteers; and
• persons appointed under the National Trust of Australia (WA) Act 1964 as wardens.