Fair Work Australia ("FWA") handed
down its second annual wage decision at 10.00 am today. The
responsibility to determine minimum wages was returned to the
industrial tribunal from the Australian Fair Pay Commission last
year.
FWA has made the following determinations:
- To increase the federal minimum wage by 3.4% or $19.40 per
week. This results in an increase from $15.00 per hour ($569.00 per
week ) to $15.51 per hour ($589.30 per week); and
- Commensurate 3.4% increases in hourly modern award minimum
rates of pay across the board.
The increases awarded will take effect from the first full pay
period on or after 1 July 2011.
The increases can be contrasted with last year's decision,
in which an increase of $26 per week in adult award minimum rates
of pay was awarded. However, there had been no movement in minimum
wages for 21 months prior to 1 July 2010.
