From January 1, 2025, the the Vehicle Repair Service and Retail Award will be varied to limit the amount of time an employee can be classified at the adult level 1 classification, Employer Assist by Industry Legal Group advises.
The variation, which will take effect from the first full pay period that starts on or after that date, requires that an RS&R (Repair Service and Retail) Adult Level 1 employee is reclassified as a RS&R Adult Level 2 within a period of three months, or earlier when the employee has obtained the skills to perform the work within the scope of a RS&R Adult Level 2 classification.
Employees classified at the Adult level 1 classification are paid less than the National Minimum Wage and this variation clarifies that the Adult Level 1 classification is intended only to be a temporary induction/entry level classification.
The variation to the VRSR Award is highlighted below.
Level 1 (Entry)
Vehicle industry RS&R—employee—Level 1 R1 (Entry)
An employee at Level 1 undertakes little or no formal or informal training.
They may be undertaking up to 38 hours of induction training which may include information on the enterprise, conditions of employment, introduction to supervisors and fellow workers, training and career path opportunities, plant layout, work and documentation procedures, work health and safety, equal employment opportunity and quality control/assurance.
Within a period of three months, the employee will be reclassified to Vehicle industry RS&R—employee—Level 2 R2.
An employee at this level would acquire/possess skills relevant to the performance of routine duties essentially of a manual nature and to the level of their training:
> Performs general labouring and/or cleaning duties;
> Has basic numeracy skills;
> Exercises minimal judgment;
> Works to defined procedures and under direct supervision; and
> May be undertaking structured training so as to enable the employee to progress to a higher level.
Classifications contained within Level 1 R1 include:
> Car cleaner/washer;
> Workshop cleaner;
> Car polisher – by hand;
> Detailer – other;
> Driveway attendant;
> Office cleaner;
> Parking attendant; and
> Process worker.
Level 2
Vehicle industry RS&R— employee—Level 2 R2
An employee at Level 2 is an employee who has completed up to three months’ employment at Level 1 so as to enable this level:
> Works under direct supervision either individually or in a team environment;
> Has some oral and written communication skills;
> Can distinguish where a minor fault/error is made and undertake basic quality control of own work;
> Is responsible for the quality of own work subject to routine supervision;
> Has some input to job planning;
> Can work from simple instructions;
> Has some basic customer service skills;
> Performs basic maintenance tasks;
> Has basic knowledge of the range of services offered by the business;
> Has simple numerical equipment skills; and
> May use selected hand tools.
Classifications contained within Level 2 R2 include:
> Battery repairer;
> Brake servicer – first six months;
> Driver of courtesy car or vehicle in relation to sales/sales promotion or in the course of registration, collection from or delivery to customer – vehicles up to and including maker’s capacity of three tonne;
> Exhaust repairers – first six months;
> Grinder and/or buffer metal – using a portable machine;
> Lubritorium attendant;
> Operator on warming mill;
> Operator detreading, buffing, gouging, etc;
> Roadhouse attendant, when required to cook take away meals only;
> Spring service worker;
> Tradesperson’s assistant (see also Level I); and
> Tyre fitter.
Member Service
Employer Assist by Industry Legal Group provide advice on all aspects of employment law. If you require any assistance with the above changes in your workplace, call 07 3376 6266 or email hvia@employerassist.com.au.