Professionals Australia has welcomed the Fair Work Commission’s decision to provide a much-needed wage increase for a quarter of Australia’s workforce, including a 5.2 per cent increase for those on the minimum wage and a 4.6 per cent increase for workers reliant on award wages.

Professionals Australia CEO Jill McCabe said that today’s wage increase was an incredibly important outcome for workers who rely on the Annual Wage Review for a pay increase.

“To protect millions of Australian workers, the union movement fought hard for this pay increase and we are pleased the Fair Work Commission acknowledged the need to lift minimum and award wage rates.

“Australia’s workers have been caught in the vice grip of low wage growth for over a decade and now spiralling cost of living pressures.

“Today’s decision by the Fair Work Commission to lift the minimum wage and award rates will come as welcome news to workers and their families struggling to meet the increasing cost of accommodation, food, energy, education and healthcare.

While welcoming today’s wage increases, Ms McCabe said that more work remained to deliver the wages and conditions Australian workers deserved.

“The profits of Australian companies are surging while Australian workers’ share of GDP has never been smaller, and this is neither fair nor sustainable.

“The current system hasn’t delivered better outcomes for workers despite low unemployment, higher productivity and higher profits.

We look forward to contributing to the proposed Employment Summit later this year where these issues can be discussed, and we will work with the Albanese Government to deliver better employment outcomes for our members.”

About Professionals Australia

Professionals Australia is a union representing over 20,000 professional employees across Australia. Through the collective influence and by providing tailored workplace and career services, Professionals Australia helps members achieve improved wages and working conditions.