Fair Work Commission raises minimum wage

Australians on the lowest wage will receive an extra $24.30 a week under the new minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission today.

The new hourly minimum rate of $18.93 ($719.20 per week) will take effect from July 1.

More than two million workers will receive 3.5 per cent increase.

The pay raise of $24.30 per week is less than half of what the Australian Council of Trade Unions wanted.

The Australian Industry Group had been pushing for a $12.50 pay rise.

ACTU Boss Sally McManus told Tom Elliott the trade unions have mixed feelings about the result.

“We’re happy and not happy at the same time,” she said.

“At least 2.3 million workers will get a pay increase.

“But it’s still not enough to lift minimum wage workers out of poverty.”

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