Introduction
In breaking news, the Fair Work Commission has just handed down its decision for modern award and low paid workers. But to my knowledge the implementation is unprecedented.
The increase
The increase will be as follows, and depending on what award covers your workers, will determine WHEN the increase is to be paid.
Firstly, the FWC has awarded a 1.75 percent increase to all employees (as mentioned) covered by a modern award.
Secondly, the Minimum Wage increases by $13,00 per week to $753.80 per week/$19.84 per hour.
The timing
This is where things get “interesting”. The FWC determine that the COVID-19 (being unprecedented) has effected each industry differently and grouped the industries into three groups, which each group having the increase applied at three different times, as follows:
Operative Date
1 July 2020 National Minimum Wage and Group 1 Awards
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- Frontline health care and social assistance workers.
- Teachers and childcare workers.
- Other essential services.
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1 November 2020 Group 2 Awards
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- Construction.
- Manufacturing.
- A range of other industries.
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1 February 2021 Group 3 Awards
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- Accommodation and food services.
- Arts and recreation services.
- Aviation.
- Retail trade.
- Tourism.
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The Fair Work Commission reasoning
The FWC resisted urging by the unions for a 4% wages increase, the 0% argued by the employer groups, with government requesting a “cautious approach”, stating that the role of the FWC is not only to take into consideration the nation’s economy when determining its wage review but also the most vulnerable low paid workers are already struggling to make ends meet and to not award an increase would be tantamount to a wage decrease. This resulting in placing those workers into poverty.
The decision in full
For greater detail, the full decision can be accessed here.
Full list of awards
Group 1
The modern award minimum wages in the awards listed below will be increased by 1.75% per cent from the start of the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2020.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award 2020 MA000115
Aged Care Award 2010 MA000018
Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020 MA000098
Banking, Finance and Insurance Award 2020 MA000019
Cemetery Industry Award 2020 MA000070
Children’s Services Award 2010 MA000120
Cleaning Services Award 2020 MA000022
Corrections and Detention (Private Sector) Award 2020 MA000110
Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 MA000076
Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2010 MA000077
Electrical Power Industry Award 2020 MA000088
Fire Fighting Industry Award 2020 MA000111
Funeral Industry Award 2010 MA000105
Gas Industry Award 2020 MA000061
Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 MA000027
Medical Practitioners Award 2020 MA000031
Nurses Award 2010 MA000034
Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 MA000012
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 MA000100
State Government Agencies Award 2020 MA000121
Water Industry Award 2020 MA000113
Modern enterprise awards and state reference awards
Australian Capital Territory Public Sector Enterprise Award 2016 MA000146
Australian Federal Police Enterprise Award 2016; MA000142
Christmas Island Administration Award 2016 MA000149
Reserve Bank of Australia Award 2016 MA000140
Northern Territory Public Sector Enterprise Award 2016 MA000151
Nurses and Midwives (Victoria) State Reference Public Sector Award 2015 MA000125
Nurses (ANMF – Victorian Local Government Award) 2015 MA000131
Victorian Government Schools Award 2016 MA000155
Victorian Government Schools – Early Childhood – Award 2016 MA000152
Victorian Local Government (Early Childhood Education Employees) 2016 MA000150
Victorian State Government Agencies Award 2015 MA000134
Group 2
The modern award minimum wages in the awards listed below will be increased by 1.75 per cent from the start of the first full pay period on or after 1 November 2020.
Aluminium Industry Award 2020 MA000060
Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 MA000118
Aquaculture Industry Award 2020 MA000114
Architects Award 2020 MA000079
Asphalt Industry Award 2020 MA000054
Australian Government Industry Award 2016 MA000153
Black Coal Mining Industry Award 2010 MA000001
Book Industry Award 2020 MA000078
Broadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award 2010 MA000091
Building and Construction General On-site Award 2010 MA000020
Business Equipment Award 2020 MA000021
Car Parking Award 2020 MA000095
Cement, Lime and Quarrying Award 2020 MA000055
Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 MA000002
Coal Export Terminals Award 2020 MA000045
Concrete Products Award 2020 MA000056
Contract Call Centres Award 2020 MA000023
Cotton Ginning Award 2020 MA000024
Dredging Industry Award 2020 MA000085
Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award 2020 MA000075
Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2010 MA000025
Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing Award 2010 MA000073
Gardening and Landscaping Services Award 2020 MA000101
Graphic Arts, Printing and Publishing Award 2010 MA000026
Higher Education Industry-Academic Staff-Award 2020 MA000006
Higher Education Industry-General Staff-Award 2020 MA000007
Horticulture Award 2010 MA000028
Hydrocarbons Field Geologists Award 2020 MA000064
Hydrocarbons Industry (Upstream) Award 2020 MA000062
Joinery and Building Trades Award 2010 MA000029
Journalists Published Media Award 2020 MA000067
Labour Market Assistance Industry Award 2020 MA000099
Legal Services Award 2020 MA000116
Local Government Industry Award 2020 MA000112
Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 MA000010
Marine Towage Award 2020 MA000050
Maritime Offshore Oil and Gas Award 2020 MA000086
Market and Social Research Award 2020 MA000030
Meat Industry Award 2020 MA000059
Mining Industry Award 2020 MA000011
Miscellaneous Award 2020 MA000104
Mobile Crane Hiring Award 2010 MA000032
Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award 2020 MA000072
Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award 2020 MA000063
Pastoral Award 2010 MA000035
Pest Control Industry Award 2020 MA000097
Pharmaceutical Industry Award 2010 MA000069
Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2010 MA000036
Port Authorities Award 2020 MA000051
Ports, Harbours and Enclosed Water Vessels Award 2020 MA000052
Poultry Processing Award 2020 MA000074
Premixed Concrete Award 2020 MA000057
Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020 MA000108
Professional Employees Award 2020 MA000065
Rail Industry Award 2020 MA000015
Real Estate Industry Award 2020 MA000106
Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award 2020 MA000039
Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 MA000038
Salt Industry Award 2010 MA000107
Seafood Processing Award 2020 MA000068
Seagoing Industry Award 2020 MA000122
Security Services Award 2020 MA000016
Silviculture Award 2020 MA000040
Stevedoring Industry Award 2020 MA000053
Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020 MA000084
Sugar Industry Award 2020 MA000087
Supported Employment Services Award 2020 MA000103
Surveying Award 2020 MA000066
Telecommunications Services Award 2010 MA000041
Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Associated Industries Award 2010 MA000017
Timber Industry Award 2010 MA000071
Transport (Cash in Transit) Award 2020 MA000042
Waste Management Award 2020 MA000043
Wool Storage, Sampling and Testing Award 2010 MA000044
Modern enterprise awards and state reference awards
Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement 2016 MA000139
Australia Post Enterprise Award 2015 MA000137
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Enterprise Award 2016 MA000147
Australian Bureau of Statistics (Interviewers) Award 2016 MA000143
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Enterprise Award 2016 MA000144
Australian Public Service Enterprise Award 2015 MA000124
Chullora Printing Award 2015 MA000127
CSIRO Enterprise Award 2016 MA000148
GrainCorp Country Operations Award 2015 MA000138
Metropolitan Newspapers (South Australia and Tasmania) Printing Award 2015 MA000130
Northern Territory News Award 2015 MA000129
Note Printing Australia Award 2016 MA000156
Optus Award 2015 MA000133
Parliamentary Departments Staff Enterprise Award 2016 MA000145
Printing Industry – Herald & Weekly Times – Production Award 2015 MA000126
Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd Printing (Murrarie) Award 2015 MA000128
Telstra Award 2015 MA000123
Victorian Local Government Award 2015 MA000132
Victorian Public Service Award 2016 MA000135
Viterra Bulk Handling and Grain Storage, Pulses and Minerals Award 2015 MA000136
Group 3
The modern award minimum wages in the awards listed below will be increased by 1.75 per cent from the start of the first full pay period on or after 1 February 2021.
Air Pilots Award 2020 MA000046
Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020 MA000047
Airline Operations-Ground Staff Award 2020 MA000048
Airport Employees Award 2020 MA000049
Alpine Resorts Award 2020 MA000092
Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 MA000080
Commercial Sales Award 2020 MA000083
Dry Cleaning and Laundry Industry Award 2020 MA000096
Fast Food Industry Award 2010 MA000003
Fitness Industry Award 2010 MA000094
General Retail Industry Award 2010 MA000004
Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2010 MA000005
Horse and Greyhound Training Award 2020 MA000008
Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 MA000009
Live Performance Award 2010 MA000081
Mannequins and Models Award 2020 MA000117
Marine Tourism and Charter Vessels Award 2020 MA000093
Nursery Award 2020 MA000033
Professional Diving Industry (Recreational) Award 2020 MA000109
Racing Clubs Events Award 2010 MA000013
Racing Industry Ground Maintenance Award 2020 MA000014
Registered and Licensed Clubs Award 2010 MA000058
Restaurant Industry Award 2020 MA000119
Sporting Organisations Award 2020 MA000082
Travelling Shows Award 2020 MA000102
Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 MA000089
Wine Industry Award 2010 MA000090
Airservices Australia Award 2016 MA000141