Articles | Minimum Wage To Increase

The Fair Work Commission has decided to increase the National Minimum Wage by 3.3%. The same increase will also be applied to the minimum rates in each Modern Award. The 3.3% increase will take effect from 1 July 2017.

The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission cited a number of economic factors that influenced its decision as to the extent of the increase, these factors include:

an increase in real net disposable income of 6.8%;
an increase in labour productivity and profit growth;
an increase in inflation (although at the end of the RBA’s target range);
and increase in the unemployment rate to 5.8%;
a 2.1% increase to CPI; and
an assessment of business conditions is positive and above long-term average levels.

The National Minimum Wage will increase by $22.20 per week, from the current $672.70 ($17.70 per hour) to $694.90 per week ($18.29 per hour).

Please contact your Employment Law specialist for further information regarding how these changes will impact your business.