SA minimum wage workers say pay rise won’t be enough to keep up with cost of living

Unions have welcomed a 3.75 per cent rise to Australia’s minimum wage but those doing it toughest say there’s still a big gap to make up.

South Australian workers on minimum wage like Sherryn Parker say they will still struggle to make ends meet despite, even after a 3.75 per cent wage increase.

From July 1, the national minimum wage will increase to $24.10 per hour for 2.6 million workers, with the average full-time worker bringing home an extra $33.11 per week.

But 62-year-old Ms Parker, who has spent over a decade as a disability support worker, says she is planning to delay her retirement for another eight years as she “just can’t afford it”.

“This pay rise is good, but it’s just not enough,” she said.

“I’m due to retire in a few years time and my retirement is now going to be pushed back to another seven or eight years because of the cost of living, rents and food and things like that.”

Vanessa Wood and Sherry Parker welcomed the rise but said it wouldn’t be enough for workers doing it tough with cost of living crisis. Picture: Dean Martin

While the extra cash may help families put better food on the table, Ms Parker said many would still have to work multiple jobs to get by.

Northern suburbs youth worker Vanessa Wood, 45, also said the increase would do little to help workers and their families keep up with rising bills.

“We’re missing out on quality family time and then going home to just be able to cover bills like the gas, the electricity, the water rates that are all going up much more than 3.75 per cent,” she said.

She also said many support services workers had also been forced to rely on the “same services they’re referring clients to” like Foodbank for meals.

L-R: Sherryn Parker, Connie Quinn, June Minor-Cywinska, and Vanessa Wood are advocating for better wages. Picture: Dean Martin

Ms Woods has worked in both the youth work and children’s services sectors and said pay rises were needed to not only retain staff but also encourage men to enter traditionally female-dominated industries.

“Children and young people need men to be positive role models but men and women can’t afford to work in these industries unless they’re working two jobs or giving up valuable time,” she said.

“Like Saturday nights when everyone else is out partying, we’re working trying to get that little bit more to accommodate the cost of living.”

The Australian Council of Trade Unions had argued for an increase of five per cent but welcomed the 3.75 per cent rise.

However ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said unions would continue fighting for higher wages in feminised industries.

“The Fair Work Commission has accepted our argument that the wages of workers in feminised industries need to be higher, though they haven’t agreed with us that it should start immediately,” she said.

“Unions will continue to fight for these increases through the process the Commission has established.”