The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has boosted the national minimum wage by 5.2 per cent, from $20.33 to $21.38 per hour or $812.60 per week.
This means that about 2.7 million of Australia’s lowest-paid workers – including some in the aged care sector – will see an extra $40 in their pay packets every week, a decision which the FWC said was driven by inflation and the increased cost of living.
“The sharp rise in inflation impacts business and workers. The Cartier Replica Watches cost of business inputs increases which, depending on the capacity to pass on those costs, adversely impacts profitability.
“Inflation erodes the real value of workers’ wages and reduces their living standards. The low paid are particularly vulnerable in the context of rising inflation,” it said.
Paul Sadler, interim CEO of the new Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), welcomed the decision but warned that, without additional Government support, aged care providers would face the “impossible choice” of investing in quality Cartier Replica improvements or cutting back to keep the lights on.
“If we don’t see urgent action, the aged care workforce crisis is simply going to translate into other serious problems like increased closures, or offsets in other areas such as training or investment in facilities.
“A significant wage increase for our workforce is essential to attract new people and improve quality of care to older Australians, but when two-thirds of providers are already running at a loss year-on-year, we need the wage increase to be funded by the Breitling Replica Watches Federal Government,” he said.
The Albanese Government, which urged the FWC in its minimum wage decision not to let real wages go backwards, will make a submission in support of a specific pay raise for aged care workers – but that does mean that the Commission likely won’t make a decision on that issue until next year.
