Increase to Award Rates

By 10/11/2020Latest

National increase to Group 2 Award wages

From 1 November 2020

At the beginning of this year, The Fair Work Commission announced an increase in the minimum wage in Australia, taking effect on three different dates to facilitate diverse groups of industry awards. 

What is the increase? 

The minimum wage has been an increase of 1.75%, which is $753.80 per week or $19.84 per hour.

 When will your award increase?

In July 2020 the Group 1 Awards were updated.

 From 1 November 2020 – Group 2 Awards 

  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • A range of other industries

 From 1 February 2021 – Group 3 Awards

  • Accommodation and food services
  • Arts and recreation services
  • Aviation
  • Retail
  • Tourism

A more detailed list of Awards in each group is available on the Fair Work website. Click here. 

 What are the next steps?

You need to review your wage arrangements and implement the required wage increases to ensure the new minimum wage rates are met for your specific industry award. Those paying above-award payments should also review their wage arrangements to ensure they are high enough to accommodate the increases in the minimum wage.

 Diverse Advice:

After your first full pay run post 1 November 2020 then the updates come into effect. 

What does that mean?  

Until your next pay run period falls entirely in November 2020, you don’t need to update the change.

For example, if you pay your staff weekly and their pay run ends today 1 November, you won’t update their pay rate when you pay them this week. Instead, you will wait until next week for the pay run week ending 8 November 2020.