Albanese government pushes to increase wages for millions of Aussie workers

Millions of Aussie workers would receive a pay rise if the Fair Work Commission agrees to increase wages for low paid workers, with the PM backing in a raise.

Australia’s lowest paid workers could benefit from another pay rise with the federal government advocating for an increase in wages to help battling Aussies with cost of living pressures.

Just days after being sworn in for its second term, the Albanese government has submitted a recommendation to the Fair Work Commission to award Australia’s lowest paid workers a substantial increase.

Since the government took office in 2022, the minimum wage has increased by $143 a week,

a joint statement from Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said.

The commission set the minimum wage at $24.10 per hour or $915.90 per week last July,

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is calling for a substantial real wage increase for about three million Australian workers on minimum wage. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

The statement said the government was now recommending wages increase further to provide a substantial real wage increase to Australia’s award workers.

An increase to the minimum wage would benefit about three million workers, including cleaners, retail workers and early childhood educators.

“This position is both economically responsible and fair,” Mr Chalmers and Ms Rishworth said.

“It will ensure low paid workers can get ahead as inflation moderates and real wages continue to grow across the economy.”

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said increasing the award wage would help Australia’s lowest paid workers get ahead as inflation moderates. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The government did not provide a figure for the increase, but the ACTU has asked the commission to lift the minimum wage by 4.5 per cent at the upcoming annual wage review.

A 4.5 per cent lift would increase the minimum wage to $25.18 per hour or $2143 a year to $49,770 for a full-time worker.

A decision on the new award is usually delivered in June, with the new rate taking effect from July 1.

Originally published as Albanese government pushes to increase wages for millions of Aussie workers