Government outlines benefits of Same Job, Same Pay a year after orders took effect
More than 7,600 labour hire employees in various industries received pay increases since the first Same Job Same Pay orders took effect last year, according to the Federal Government.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth revealed that the orders have so far benefited workers from the mining, aviation, railway, meat processing, automotive, water treatment, construction, public administration, and warehousing industries.
"A year on we're now seeing thousands of workers who are thousands of dollars better off because we changed the law," Rishworth said.
These benefited workers include labour hire employees at a Queensland mine who received pay increases of up to $60,000 a year, as well as domestic flight attendants who received up to $20,000 a year, to align their pay with directly employed counterparts.
Over 200 workers at NSW coal mines also secured pay increases of $40,000 a year, according to the government. Other successful Same Job Same Pay orders include:
- Freight workers getting pay increases of up to $8,000 a year.
- Up to 200 Kmart warehouse workers receiving wage increases of up to 12%.
"If you're doing the same job, with the same experience, while wearing the same uniform – it's only fair that you get the same pay," Rishworth said.
"That's exactly why we passed Same Job Same Pay laws – to stop workers' pay being undercut."
The Same Job Same Pay reforms were introduced under the Australian government's Closing Loopholes legislation.
The reforms allow labour hire workers to apply to the Fair Work Commission for an order that will ensure they get at least the full rate of pay received by a directly hired employee who is performing the same job.
