Australia’s 1.3 million low-paid workers failed to receive a wage rise after the Fair Pay Commission delivered its final minimum Wage-Setting Decision yesterday.
The minimum wage will remain frozen at $14.31 an hour after the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry decided against the ACTU’s call for a $21 a week increase.
The Commission’s chairman, Professor Ian Harper said the decision not to raise wages was a difficult one and was made in light of the uncertain time for the economy and the labour market. The commission added the decision intends to protect jobs and support steady economic recovery.
“This is not the time to risk the jobs of low-paid Australians by increasing minimum wages,” Professor Harper said.
The Federal Opposition has backed the wage freeze with Opposition workplace relations spokesman Michael Keenan stating that it would help to preserve jobs.
‘It is a job-preserving, realistic decision of the independent umpire that will support a recovery of employment levels and the economy more generally.”
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