A Living Wage & Minimum Wage

Australia’s 1.86 million lowest paid workers will receive a $16 increase to their weekly pay packets following the Fair Work Commission’s decision in the annual wage case today. This increase is not enough to close the growing gap between average and minimum wages that is putting enormous pressure on our…

Australia's 1.86 million lowest paid workers will receive a $16 increase to their weekly pay packets following the Fair Work Commission's decision in the annual wage case today. This increase is not enough to close the growing gap between average and minimum wages that is putting enormous pressure on our…

Years of moderate increases to the minimum wage mean low incomes earners are all but shut out of the housing market. The ACTU lodged a submission to the FWC on March 27 calling for a wage increase for Australia's lowest paid including cleaners, retail and hospitality staff, child care workers,…

Business is being disingenuous over claims a $27 increase would force employers to cut hours and lead to job losses. Such claims don't stack up beside current optimism in the economic outlook with forecasters (RBA/IMF/OECD)* expecting growth this year to be better than last year, and next year to be…

The ACTU's call for a $27 per week increase to the minimum wage will deliver a $3.1 billion per year economic stimulus. In contrast, calls by employer groups for as little as $5.70 per week increase amounts to a real wage cut for Australia's lowest paid workers when taking into…

The ACTU is calling for a $27 increase in the minimum wage to $667.90 per week or $17.58 per hour. The ACTU's submission to the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review shows minimum wages are at a record low of 43.4% of average weekly full time earnings and that inequality…

The ACTU will ask the Fair Work Commission to increase compulsory superannuation contributions for workers on award minimum wages to compensate them for the cut to their retirement savings because of the Abbott Government's decision to freeze superannuation increases. The ACTU will make the claim as part of its submission…

With the deadline for the Annual Wage Review this Friday, ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver has called on employers to lodge a submission based on facts, not anecdotes. “The ACTU is preparing to lodge its submission to increase the minimum wage,” said Mr Oliver. “Minimum wages are effective in boosting pay…

Australian-first research reveals 29% of Australia's 200 largest listed companies pay an effective corporate tax rate of 10% or less. The ground breaking report Who Pays for Our Common Wealth? Tax Practices of the ASX 200 examines taxes paid over the last decade by the top 200 companies on the…

Australia's 1.5 million low paid workers and their families are facing tough times ahead following the Fair Work Commission's decision to only raise the minimum wage by $18.70 a week. ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver said the decision is particularly unfair considering today's National Accounts figures show the economy to be…