170,000 South Australians in line for minimum wage increases — but some workers will have to wait for their money
Australia’s lowest paid workers will soon receive a pay rise, but it’s well short of last year’s increase and workers will have to wait.
SA News
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More than 170,000 of South Australia’s lowest paid workers are in line for a $13 a week pay rise.
However the extra cash will not hit pay packets of about 100,000 retail and fast food workers until February next year followinga decision that has been described by state’s most powerful union as appalling.
The Fair Work Commission decision announced on Friday means the national minimum wage will rise by 1.75 per cent to $753.80a week, or $19.84 per hour, from July 1 for essential workers.
Construction and manufacturing workers won’t get the pay rise until November.
And Australians working in retail, hospitality, aviation and arts, will have to wait until February.
The rise falls well short of the three per cent increase to the minimum wage last year.
Commission president Justice Iain Ross, pictured, says it comes amid a significant downturn in Australia’s economy, drivenby the coronavirus. “The shock to the labour market has been unprecedented,” he said in a recorded message.
SDA Secretary Josh Peak said after everything our frontline retail workers have done for us, this decision was a disgrace.
“Over the past three months, retail workers have been putting up with a lot,” he said.
“From customer abuse, low stock levels to the long hours.
“A wage freeze is no way to thank these essential workers for serving our communities.”
“Just saying ‘thank you’ to retail workers is not enough, we must make sure those who have served the community so well overthe past three months are not left behind.”
Commissioner Ross said there were significant downside risks to the economy ahead, including the potential threat of a secondwave of coronavirus infections.
“The outlook, including the nature and speed of the expected recovery, remains highly uncertain,” he said. Peak union bodythe ACTU had argued for a four per cent rise this year. Business groups had argued the minimum wage should be frozen untilmid-2021 to enable people impacted by the coronavirus-driven downturn to find jobs.
The commission’s decision directly affects 2.24 million low-paid workers and indirectly affects many more.
Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter had opposed any substantial increase to what is already the world’s highestminimum wage.
– with AAP
Originally published as 170,000 South Australians in line for minimum wage increases — but some workers will have to wait for their money