Australia`s minimum wage will be adjusted to A $719.2 a week, up 3.5 percent. (SBS Photo)
On Friday, the (Fair Work Commission) announced that Australia`s minimum wage would be adjusted to A $719.2 a week, or A $18.93 an hour, starting July 1, an increase of 3.5 percent. Minimum-income workers will receive an extra A $24.3 a week.
Ross (Justice Iain Ross), chairman of the Fair work Commission, said the current economic index points more clearly to the healthy national economy and the labour market than it did in the same period last year. As a matter of fact, adjusting the minimum wage allows real wage growth for those who receive income based on that standard.
The union had previously called for a A $50 increase in wages for more than 2.3 million Australians a week, while employers were hoping to raise only A $13.
But the commission failed to pass a pay increase filed by the Australian National Federation of Trade Union (ACTU) and the Australian Catholic Employment Relations Association (Australian Catholic Council for Employment Relations) because the increase could have a negative impact on the job market.
Ross said the negative impact could affect groups on the margins of the labour market, as well as vulnerable poor families due to, inter alia, unemployment.
The Fair work Commission is also reported to have decided to raise the minimum wage for all modern labor adjudication agreements, (modern award), by 3.5 percent, which will also take effect from July 1.
Ross said the committee considered the situation in different regions, industries and areas. There are no exceptions to the need to postpone the promotion of the minimum wage.
McManas (Sally McManus), secretary of Australia`s National Federation of Trade unions, welcomed the decision to raise the minimum wage. He pointed out that the increase was the biggest. Australia`s wage growth is a step forward, but it is not enough, thanks to the union`s aggressive struggle. Trade unions will continue to fight for a living wage for Australian workers.
