Minimum wage to rise 5.2% in 2022

Millions of Australian workers will be better off after the Fair Work Commission increased the national minimum wage by 5.2 per cent.

This means those on the minimum wage will see a rise of $40 a week to $812.60.

For those on modern award rates, those earning below $869.40 will see a $40 per week increase while those earning above $869.40 will get a 4.6% increase

AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton welcomed the news and said Australian unions have been campaigning hard for the rise.

“With inflation running at 5.1% and tipped to go as high as 7% later in the year, ordinary Australian workers and their families are really battling to keep up,” Mr Walton said.

“There has been a surge in the cost of living as inflation, rising rents and interest rates, and skyrocketing petrol and energy prices hit their wallets.”

“But while this is a good outcome for those on a minimum wage, there are still 8.5 million workers who don’t know where their next wage rise is coming from.

“It’s just another reason to stay strong, become involved with your union, and fight for better pay and conditions.”

The rises kick in for most workers from July 1, but some, including those for working under Airline Operations (Ground Staff), Alpine Resorts, Hospitality Industry, Registered and Licensed Clubs, and Restaurant Industry awards,  must wait until October 1.

Predictably, business lobbies, including Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Council of Small Business Organisations, lined up to voice their outrage against the FWC ruling.

But newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who made a fair rise in the minimum wage a campaign pledge and backed it with a submission to the FWC case, said he “absolutely” welcomed today’s decision.

And Mr Walton said wage growth was a critical issue for the economy.

“Despite low unemployment, high productivity and record profits,  Australian workers have faced a decade of record low wage growth capped by ongoing real wage cuts,” he said.

“If it were not for the work of unions such as the AWU, employers would continue to push for real wage cuts, pocket the profits, and Australian working people and their families would see no relief.”