State and territory governments recently came out in support of the ACTU’s minimum wage case, calling for a $20 per week wage increase for low-paid workers
State and territory governments recently came out in support of the ACTU’s minimum wage case, calling for a $20 per week wage increase for low-paid workers.
In the state and territory governments joint submission to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC), Victorian Industrial Relations Minister Rob Hulls argued for a sustainable increase in safety net adjustments in award rates of pay.
“We believe that a $20 per week increase can strike the balance,” he said. “It is economically responsible and will deliver some welcome financial relief to struggling families across the country.”
The ACTU is seeking a minimum wage increase of $26.60 a week, which would lift the minimum hourly rate for adults to $12.50 an hour.
The ACTU responded positively to Minister Hulls’ comments, calling on the Federal Government to follow the states and territories lead.
“While the ACTU remain committed to achieving the full amount of our claim, we believe the decisions of labor state and territory governments to support a $20 increase is a positive development,” said ACTU Secretary Greg Combet.
The challenge was now for the Federal Government and Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews in particular to show some commitment to the needs of the low paid by also supporting a decent increase, Combet said.
“The challenge for Kevin Andrews is to break with the pattern set by Reith and Abbott and start taking the needs of low paid Australians seriously,” said Combet.
The ACTU cited research from The Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW, which showed that a family of four living on the minimum wage falls more than $180 a week below the income level the researches say is needed to provide them with a “full opportunity to participate in contemporary Australian society and the basic options it offers”.
ABS statistics also show that profits and productivity in the main industry sectors employing minimum wage workers like hospitality and retail have greatly outstripped wage increases, Combet said.
The ACTU minimum wage case affects 1.6 million employees including many part-time and casuals and will be heard by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission latter this month.
