AN140103 – Electrical Contracting Industry Award - State 2003

PART 6 - HOURS OF WORK, BREAKS, OVERTIME, SHIFT WORK, WEEKEND WORK 

6.1 HOURS OF WORK

6.1.1 The ordinary hours of work shall not exceed an average of 38 per week and, subject to agreement between the employer and the majority of employees concerned, may be worked on one of the following bases:

(a) By employees working less than 8 ordinary hours each day;

(b) By employees working less than 8 ordinary hours on one or more days each work cycle;

(c) By fixing one or more work days on which all employees will be off during a particular work cycle;

(d) By rostering employees off on various days of the week during a particular work cycle, so that each employee has one work day off during that cycle:

Provided that a work cycle shall not exceed 4 weeks.

6.1.2 Subject to clause 6.1.7, employees may agree that the ordinary hours of work are to exceed 8 on any day, thus enabling more than one work day to be taken off during a particular work cycle.

6.1.3 Notwithstanding any other provision in clause 6.1, where the arrangement of ordinary hours of work provides for a rostered day off, the employer and the majority of employees concerned, may agree to accrue up to a maximum of 5 rostered days off. Where such agreement has been reached, the accrued rostered days off shall be taken within 12 calendar months of the date on which the first rostered day off was accrued. Consent to accrue rostered days off shall not be unreasonably withheld by either party.

6.1.4 Further, provided agreement is reached between an employer and the majority of employees concerned, or where an employer and an individual employee so agree, another ordinary working day may be substituted for the scheduled day off. However any substituted day shall be taken within 2 calendar months.

6.1.5 Different methods of implementation of the 38 hour week may apply to individual employees, groups or sections of employees in the business concerned.

6.1.6 The ordinary hours of work prescribed herein, shall be worked continuously, except for meal breaks and rest pauses, between 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays inclusive.

6.1.7 The ordinary hours of work prescribed herein, shall not exceed 10 hours on any day; Provided that where the ordinary working hours are to exceed 8 on any day, the arrangement of such hours shall be subject to the agreement of the employer and the majority of employees concerned.

Provided further, that where any agreement is reached to work ordinary hours in excess of 8 in a day, the employer shall advise the Union in writing within 14 days of the commencement of such work under such arrangement.

6.1.8 Employees shall be entitled to a meal break of a minimum of 30 minutes and maximum of 60 minutes, to be taken any time between the fourth and the sixth hours from the commencement of duty.