- The Guardian
- Issue #2198
Photo: oneclickgroupuk.com – flickr.com (CC BY 2.0)
Wage rises for 3 million Australians who rely on minimum and award wages have started to flow through into workers’ bank accounts – but many workers could still miss out unless they check their pay slips carefully.
From the first full pay period after 1 July, award-reliant workers must be paid the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. A smaller group of around 100,000 workers at the very lowest award rates are entitled to a 6% pay boost to help with essential living costs.
The wage increases will add $56 a week to the wages of the lowest-paid full-time worker, lifting Australia’s minimum weekly wage above $1,000 for the first time. The 3 million other award-reliant workers will receive more than this.
Australian Unions fought for the above-inflation wage rises and are encouraging workers to check their pay slips closely over the coming weeks to ensure they receive the increases. Unions also fought for increased fines and criminal liability for employers who engage in wage theft, and those employers who withhold these increases risk these sanctions.
ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus, urged workers to compare their final June pay slip with their first full pay slip after 1 July, to confirm the new rate has been correctly applied by their employer.
Workers who are concerned they may not have received the wage rise should keep records of their pay slips, contact their union or call Australian Unions on 1300 486 466.
McManus said “July is pay rise month for millions of Australian workers. It’s not just those on award wages, but many collective agreements have pay rises that also kick in on 1 July. It’s important that everyone who is affected checks their pay slips this month to ensure their employer is paying what unions fought for and so they can experience the cost-of-living relief that comes from extra pay.”
McManus pointed out that the government has brought in laws to crack down on those employers who withhold the pay rises they are legally required to pass on. This includes fines and possible criminal sanctions for the most serious cases. Most employers do the right thing, but there are always some who do not and hope their employees don’t notice.
McManus stressed that the pay rises are not automatic and are not because employers are showing good will. The pay rises are happening because of the Australian union movement worked for them.
If something doesn’t add up on your payslip, keep the payslip and call your union or Australian Unions on 1300 486 466 to get help to recover what you are owed.
