Pay rise in key Aust industries
AUSTRALIANS in key industries will see a boost to their pay packets this week after a decision made by the Fair Work Commission in June.
Pay rises for workers covered by the hospitality award, the aircraft cabin award and the restaurant industry award, among others, were due to come into effect from October 1, after the Fair Work Commission delayed pay rises in Covid-impacted industries in its initial decision.
In that report, the Fair Work Commission increased the minimum wage by 5.2 per cent, or $40 per week for some workers, from $20.33 to $21.38.
Workers covered by select award agreements saw an increase of 4.6 per cent for wages above $869 per week and $40 per week for those below that amount.
The awards impacted by this week’s pay rise are those relating to aircraft cabin crews, airline ground staff, air pilots, airport employees, alpine resort workers, hospitality workers, marine tourism and charter vessel awards, registered and licensed clubs and the restaurant industry awards.
With the typical monthly payment sent through to workers by the 15th of each month, next Friday should mark the first time the pay rise comes through in full for everyone.
Up to 2.6 million Australians are covered by higher awards, or 23 per cent of the country’s workforce.
During the federal election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took the uncommon step of endorsing an increase to the minimum wage.
After the panel handed down their decision in June, the Prime Minister celebrated the decision, saying it “makes a difference to people struggling with the cost of living.”
“The truth is many of those people on the minimum wage are the heroes who saw us through the pandemic,” Mr Albanese said.