Minimum wage earners get annual pay rise

The Fair Work Commission will hand down its annual minimum wage decision in Melbourne, directly affecting the pay packets of more than two million Australians.

ANNUAL PAY RISE FOR MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS

WHAT IS THE CURRENT (2016) NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE?

* $672.70 a week; $17.70 an hour

* 2016 increase: $15.80 a week or 2.4 per cent

WHAT INCREASE DO INTEREST GROUPS WANT?

* ACTU - $45 a week

* Australian Industry Group - $10.10 a week or 1.5 per cent

* Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - $8.10 a week or 1.2 per cent

* Australian Retailers Association - $8.10 a week or 1.2 per cent

* Hospitality union United Voice - $87.30 a week

WHO GETS IT?

* The ACTU says 2.3 million workers are dependent on the annual minimum wage review for an increase in their wages

* Federal government says of the 2.3 million Australians paid an award rate, the majority (70.3 per cent) are not low-paid

* Says about 196,300 (or 1.9 per cent of all employees) paid national minimum wage rate

* Government says award classification wages range from current national minimum wage of $34,980 per year up to $166,000 a year (air pilots award)

* Increase applies from July 1


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Source: AAP


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