The Fair Work Commission’s announcement of a 2.5 per cent rise in the minimum wage and modern awards places unnecessary risk and increases in overheads on business at a time of continued economic uncertainty, according to the state’s peak business organisation, Business NSW.
The Fair Work Commission has determined a pay rise for awards-reliant workers that exceeds both inflation and average wage rises across the economy.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over with community transmission cases still occurring and a vaccine rollout has not been as fast or extensive as is needed across Australia.
As a result, key industry sectors continue to be significantly impacted by economic uncertainty, the ongoing closure of international borders and the lack of a clear roadmap for how and when borders will safely reopen,” said Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter.
“Business NSW supported a wage increase of 1.6 per cent (including the 0.5 per cent increase in the Superannuation Guarantee) in our supplementary submission – a suggested the cautious approach given the significant challenges and uncertainty facing business,” Mr Hunter said.
“The challenge with the structure of the Annual Wage Review (AWR) process is that it can’t fully accommodate significant variances in the economy with its one-size-fits-all approach.
“Some businesses are thriving, but others are still suffering. This has been particularly challenging for the Expert Panel at the Fair Work Commission this year, between enabling employees of prospering businesses to see wages rise, without imposing fatal extra costs on struggling businesses.
“Our early estimates indicate that it will cost NSW almost a billion dollars at a time when employers are still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued closure of the international borders.
“This pay rise occurs on the same date as the legislated rise of 0.5 per cent to the Superannuation Guarantee. We are concerned that for many affected businesses, this rise will negatively impact unemployment, especially for lower paid and younger workers.
“Businesses in some sectors will face three pay rises in the space of nine months. Wages in the tourism sector increased by 1.75% on 1 Feb, then will increase by 0.5% on 1 July and again by 2.5% on 1 November. Although aggregate employment statistics are presently
healthy, repeated cost increases cannot be loaded onto the shoulders of businesses without causing damage,” Mr Hunter said.
