More than 400,000 low-paid workers in key industries will take home a bigger pay slip from today, thanks to a 4.6 per cent increase to minimum wages under their awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Industries in which workers are set to benefit include hospitality, tourism and aviation, with full-time workers seeing a minimum $40 extra per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will be the first pay cycle for many workers set to get a bump in pay after the change came into effect on 1 October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Workers under 111 other awards received their pay rise in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supporting a minimum wage increase was a promise the Albanese Government took to the election, and one of its key priorities on taking office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boosting workers\u2019 pay is a critical step to tackling cost of living pressures, alongside cheaper child care and medicines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy Government is focused on tackling the spiralling cost of living that is making life tough for too many Australians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat’s why we put forward a submission to the Fair Work Commission to increase the wages of people who are on the minimum wage and successfully argued for the result, which was a 5.2 per cent increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe must get wages rising again and make health care, child care and housing more affordable, while we work to grow the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis Government will deliver a future where no one is held back and no one is left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Jim Chalmers:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are working around the clock to get wages moving again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWage suppression was a deliberate design feature of the former Government\u2019s economic policy \u2013 that era is well and truly over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll continue to fight for more secure jobs and better pay for workers. This month\u2019s Budget will take forward initiatives from the Jobs and Skills Summit to build a bigger, better trained and more productive workforce, creating opportunities for more Australians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Tony Burke said:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis pay rise is higher than it otherwise would have been because – for the first time in nearly a decade \u2013 the Federal Government actually argued in favour of a pay rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany low-paid workers are young, female, in casual employment, and are far more likely to find themselves experiencing financial hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany of these same workers were at the frontline of our pandemic response, keeping our supply chains moving and delivering essential services during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWorkers like these deserved this pay rise. And we\u2019re going to keep fighting for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional background:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
More than 2.7 million workers, covered by the combined July and October award increases, will receive a pay bump due to the Fair Work Commission decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pay rise broken down by States\/Territory:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n