Below are the main provisions regarding annual shutdown and the calculation of leave pay and leave enhancement pay – also called a leave bonus or bonus:

  • The dates of the annual shutdown are determined by the firm’s management, however, the shutdown must take place as close as possible to the previous year’s shutdown, as stipulated in clause 16 of the Main Agreement.
  • The three consecutive weeks’ paid leave must be taken over an unbroken period and must include four weekends. In addition, the three weeks’ leave must be extended with full pay for each public holiday which falls during the shutdown period and which would otherwise have been an ordinary working day. This year, depending on the start of the annual shutdown, the following public holidays fall into this category:
  •  Tuesday 16 December  
  Day of Reconciliation 
  •  Thursday 25 December   
  Christmas Day
  •  Friday 26 December
   Day of Goodwill
  •  Thursday 1 January
   New Year’s Day
  • All employees are entitled to their full leave pay and leave enhancement pay on completion of 234 shifts worked on a five-day week basis or 283 shifts on a six-day week basis, excluding overtime.

Calculating shifts Click here