6 December, 2006
The Australian Fair Pay Commission (Commission) has commenced work on its second Wage-Setting Decision to be announced in mid-2007 by calling for public submissions.
The Commission advertised nationally on December 2 for interested individuals and organisations to participate in the decision-making process by making a submission.
Submissions should address the Commission’s key objective of promoting the economic prosperity of the people of Australia with regard to:
- The capacity for the unemployed and low paid to obtain and remain in employment;
- Employment and competitiveness across the economy; and
- Providing a safety net for the low paid.
The 2007 Minimum Wage Review will also include consideration of the impact of the Commission’s first Minimum Wage Decision and changes to minimum wage rates that affect employees with a disability, as announced in October 2006.
Commission Chairman, Professor Ian Harper, said the submission process is central to the Commission’s wage review process.
“The Commission received more than 180 submissions from employer, employee and community organisations; from governments, businesses and individuals as part of the 2006 Minimum Wage Review.
“These submissions provided a range of perspectives about minimum wages in Australia and were used by the Commission to understand the impact of its decisions on all Australians.”
The Commission was established as an independent statutory body to set and adjust the Federal Minimum Wage and minimum classification rates of pay in Australian Pay and Classification Scales. The Commission also sets and adjusts minimum wages for piece workers, casual loadings, and special Federal Minimum Wages for juniors, trainees and employees with disabilities.
The 2007 Minimum Wage Review, like the previous one in 2006, will also involve stakeholder and consultation sessions, as well as commissioned research. These details will be released early in 2007.
The closing date for submissions for the 2007 Minimum Wage Review is close of business, Friday, 30 March, 2007.
Submissions can be emailed to submissions@fairpay.gov.au or mailed to Locked Bag 35003, Collins Street West, MELBOURNE VIC 8007.
To obtain a submission form, or for further information about how to make a submission, visit www.fairpay.gov.au or call 1300 139 699.
The Commission has also announced that it will undertake a review of junior wage rates and minimum wage rates for employees to whom training arrangements apply during 2007. Submissions to these reviews will be invited in early 2007.
ENDS
Media Enquiries: Justin Napier, Manager Communications
03 8621 8206
justin.napier@fairpay.gov.au