Hiring disabled employees in the suppported wage system

IN BRIEF

People often judge a book by its cover and this still applies when it comes to the judgments we make about each other. In light of the proposed anti discrimination legislation, this article outlines how the supported wage system assists with the employment of disabled persons.

WHAT IS THE SUPPORTED WAGE SYSTEM?

Industrial awards have specific provisions which provide that employees with a disability can receive wages on a sliding scale according to their ability to perform the work they are assigned. Individuals whose productive work capacity is reduced by reason of disability can be paid a productivity wage. A National Panel of Assessors assesses the productivity of employees with disabilities and that assessment is then used to calculate a corresponding wage.