Fair Work Australia has rejected an employer attempt to deny thousands of manufacturing workers penalty rates on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, this year.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union successfully opposed the Australian Industry Group application to Fair Work Australia, which handed down its decision this afternoon.

The decision means workers will now be paid penalty rates on all Public Holidays declared in their State this year.

Dave Oliver, the National Secretary of the AMWU, said that the decision was a common sense outcome in line with modern community standards and family values.

"Every worker who has to work on Christmas day this year would rightly expect to be compensated for being away from their family."

 “The standard is clear in the community's mind and the FWA decision reflects that reasonable expectation.”

The AMWU has now called on new Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and SA Premier Mike Rann to join all other states and territories and declare an additional public holiday for Christmas Day.

“Most states have now done the right thing and made sure that workers will be compensated for working those days. It would be pretty crook if workers in Victoria or SA were to miss out.”