Minimum Wage Order - Australia

The Fair Work Commission announced on 30th of May the National Minimum Wage Order, which prescribes an increase to the minimum wage and award wages.

As of the first full pay period after 1st July 2023, the national minimum wage will increase from $21.38 per hour to $23.23 per hour or $882.80 per week. Hourly rates of pay in all modern awards will also increase by 5.75%.

The national minimum wage will apply to all non-award/award-free and agreement-free employees.

Employers will have to check the current wages of both their award wage and award-free employees and if necessary, increase their hourly rate or salary so that their employees are paid commensurately with the minimum wage order.

Also commencing this month on 6th June, are some of the slated legislative changes and entitlements of the Secure Jobs and Better Pay Act.

These include:

Changes to the process of requesting flexible working arrangements and extending unpaid parental leave. Changes to the process of initiating enterprise bargaining and Multi-enterprise bargaining will become accessible to low-paid industry employers.

On June 30th award wage rates in the Aged Care Sector Award 2020, will increase by 15%. Also on 30th June, changes to the Supported Employment Services Award 2020 that include minimum rates, classifications and supported wage assessments will also come into effect.