Model transitional provisions

Model transitional provisions serve as guidelines in modern awards that help manage the changeover from old award systems to the new, modernised ones. They ensure a smooth transition, addressing issues like pay rates and conditions of employment. These provisions help both employers and employees adjust to new standards without sudden disruptions, often including gradual steps to align with the new requirements.

Are transitional provisions still relevant?

Model transitional provisions were used when modern awards started on 1 January 2010, to phase in differences in minimum wages, loadings and penalty rates between the old instruments and the new awards. The phasing-in finished on 1 July 2014, so the provisions no longer affect current pay rates and are now mainly of historical interest. Today, employees covered by a modern award must be paid at least the current award rates. For example, an employer cannot rely on an old phase-in schedule to pay less than today's award minimum.

Read our guide to modern awards.