
We often hear on the news when minimum wages in Australia have been reviewed. The industries that regularly come up in these conversations include the hospitality industry, child care industry and retail industry.
Who are the lowest paid workers in Australia?
According to Indeed as at July 2023, some of the lowest paid jobs in Australia include:
- Checkout Operator
- Dishwasher
- Fast Food Cook
- Retail Assistant
- Pick and Packer
- Childcare Worker
- Receptionists
What does Minimum Wage Mean?
A minimum wage is an employee’s base rate of pay for ordinary hours worked.
It’s generally dependent on the industrial instrument that applies to their employment. For example, a modern award or registered agreement.
Employees cannot be paid less than their applicable minimum wage,
even if they agree to it.
What is the Current National Minimum Wage?
As at April 2024, the National Minimum Wage is currently $23.23 per hour or $882.80 per 38 hour week (before tax).
Casual employees covered by the National Minimum Wage also get at least a 25% casual loading.
For award and agreement-free employees, the percentage scale in the Miscellaneous Award is applied to the National Minimum Wage.
Employees Covered by a Modern Award
Most employees in the national workplace system are covered by a modern award.
These contain the minimum wage, as well as other terms and conditions, for employees in particular industries and occupations. Some awards can have transitional arrangements as determined by the FWC.
Employers and employees should check their relevant modern award(s) to determine if transitional arrangements apply.
Where Can I Find More Information?
The Fair Work website is a great place to start: www.fairwork.gov.au.
Their website has some helpful Fact Sheets that you can download, as well as Pay Calculators and other tools.
Human Resources consultants can also provide advice in this area.
About us:
Festival Bookkeeping are a team of Xero advisers and bookkeepers located in Adelaide, South Australia. We help busy business owners and their teams Australia-wide. You can contact us on 0421 501 887 or sarina@festivalbookkeeping.com.au
Learn more about our bookkeeping services here: https://festivalbookkeeping.com.au/payroll-tips-for-getting-it-right/
Looking for more helpful articles about bookkeeping and accounting? Try https://festivalbookkeeping.com.au/xero-payroll-4-common-mistakes and https://festivalbookkeeping.com.au/8-different-ways-to-bundle-your-services/
Read what our happy clients have to say here: https://festivalbookkeeping.com.au/testimonials/
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