More than 2.6 million low-paid Australian workers could be set for a boost to their pay packets, with the Fair Work Commission just days away from handing down its annual wage review.
The independent body is set to hand down its determination in Sydney on Tuesday, with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) pushing for a 4.5 per cent lift in the minimum wage.
This would boost it to $25.18 per hour, lifting the salary for an annual full-time worker by $2143 to $49,770.
The FWC’s determination, which will come into affect from July 1, applies to about 2.6 million workers who are not on an existing award or agreement.
The Albanese government has backed an above-inflation increase, beyond 2.4 per cent, however it has not nominated a specific number.
Newly installed Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has previously called for “an economically responsible real wage increase” while stating that the “setting of the minimum wage is a matter for the Fair Work Commission”.
“We do need to consider the economic conditions, but we also believe that in those economic conditions, workers deserve a real wage increase,” she said earlier this month.
ACTU boss Sally McManus has recently criticised a call by the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association to lift the minimum wage by 2 per cent, arguing the increase was below inflation and amounted to a real wage cut.
The industry body represents businesses that employ about 500,000 workers and includes major hospitality players like Merivale, Fink Group and Van Haandel.
“Not only does this employer group want to dramatically cut the pay of low-paid workers, but they also have the gall in the next breath to complain that customers then aren’t spending enough in their businesses,” she said.
“As far as shooting themselves in the foot, it’s a good effort because few local cafe or restaurant owners can afford for ordinary Australians to take a real pay cut.
“It will be their own restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels and bars crying out for people with enough spare cash to go and spend their money there.”
Currently, the minimum wage is $24.10 per hour, which equates to $915.90 or an annual full-time salary of $47,627.06.
https://thewest.com.au/business/fair-work-commission-to-hand-down-annual-wage-review-on-tuesday-c-18853882
