ACTU wrong on wages
25 Jul 2018 | Media Release
“It’s wrong for the ACTU to claim the wage setting system is failing working people,” Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO, James Pearson, said today.
“Wages set by the Fair Work Commission have risen by or above inflation during its 9 years of operation.
“These increases have seen Australia deliver one of the highest minimum wages in the world.
“The ACTU is cherry picking the inflation and wages data by comparing June inflation to March wages growth.
“The reality is that at the beginning of July this year almost a quarter of the workforce saw their wages go up by 3.5% as a result of the Fair Work Commission’s most recent wages decision.
“This is significantly higher than the increase in inflation.
“This means the current system is delivering sustained real wage increases.
“This puts real pressure on small businesses and job,” Mr Pearson said.
“Small businesses account for a large share of award wage employment in Australia.
“Some of the least resourced and most at risk businesses are asked to pay out more than they can charge their customers, year in and year out.
“Low inflation means that increases in minimum wages are real increases, but employers can’t pass on increases in a highly competitive market.
“Whilst inflation remains low, spikes in the cost of fuel and electricity hit businesses and households hard.
“Rather than passing these costs on, business are absorbing them,” Mr Pearson said.
“Over 60 percent of small business operators are finding it particularly tough, taking home less than $50,000 each year.
“The latest data also shows bargained wages in the private sector going up 2.8% – well above inflation. Annual wage growth (measured by the ABS Wage Price Index) across all forms of wage setting has exceeded prices growth 6 times in the past 8 quarters.
“If the ACTU wants to see even higher wage rises, they need to work with business to find ways to grow the economy, to help attract investment and sustainably deliver more well-paying jobs.”
Related News
Unions must respect the Law when they enter work sites
15/02/2019
“Union officials wanting to enter employer premises must be subject to effective oversight and accountability and, like every other Australian, they must respect the law”...
Does the Senate support Small Business – or not?
15/02/2019
Australia’s largest voice for small business, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is urging the Senate not to recreate mass uncertainty for Australians who...
Vale George Polites AC CMG MBE (1918-2019)
12/02/2019
It is with great sadness the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry notes the passing of George Polites AC CMG MBE. Mr Polites was a seminal...
Australian Chamber welcomes Royal Commission report and calls for focus on the future
5/02/2019
Australia’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the Royal Commission’s final report into Australia’s financial services...
No time to relax on budget repair
1/02/2019
“With business sentiment wavering amid global economic uncertainty, now is not the time for the Government to relax its effort on budget repair,” James Pearson,...
Australian Chamber-Tourism Chair appointed to Tourism Australia Board
30/01/2019
Australia’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the appointment of Australian Chamber-Tourism Executive Chair, John Hart as...
Increase in the instant asset write-off a boost for small business
29/01/2019
Australia’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement today of an increase in the...
Steady growth in employment is good news
24/01/2019
The positive news delivered by the ABS Labour Force figures today is a welcome boost to business confidence, Australia’s largest and most representative business voice,...
Small Business top of agenda where it belongs
21/01/2019
The focus on small business in announcements today by the Federal Opposition has been welcomed by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - the...
ACTU's advocacy against Working Holiday Makers ignores the benefits
15/01/2019
Australia’s peak body of tourism organisations, Australian Chamber-Tourism, is concerned by reports today that the Unions would be applying strong pressure on a possible Labor...
Business welcomes latest results from graduate employment and employer satisfaction survey
11/01/2019
An improvement in employment outcomes as well as an increase in employer satisfaction with higher education graduates shown in the latest national survey have been...
Australia right to look to the Indian Ocean, as well as Asia-Pacific, to secure our future
10/01/2019
Australia’s largest and most representative business voice, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes and supports the Australian Governments’ focus on the Indian Ocean...
Job Vacancies – The Facts
9/01/2019
In response to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)’s claims today that there is a “national insecure work crisis” which is a “national disaster”,...
ABCC crucial to maintaining the law and protecting workers and small businesses
9/01/2019
Workers and the businesses that employ them have every right to be seriously concerned at reported plans by Federal Labor to abolish the Australian Building...
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s New Year’s Resolution
28/12/2018
In this upcoming Federal Election year, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s New Year resolution is to convince the next Federal Government of Australia...
Employment story continues positive trend; enterprise agreements still delivering
20/12/2018
The largest and most representative network for Australian businesses, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has welcomed the reduction in trend unemployment, with the...
COAG Energy Council outcomes better reflect industry concerns - at last
19/12/2018
Australia’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has welcomed the COAG Energy Council’s recognition today of the importance...
Improvement in Budget bottom-line welcome
17/12/2018
Australia’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the improvement in the budget bottom line, announced by...
Australian Chamber Welcomes New Employment Report
14/12/2018
Australia’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the release of a Government report from the Independent...
Business mood cools but remains positive - survey results reveal
13/12/2018
The fourth-quarter results of the Australian Chamber-Westpac survey of Industrial trends, released today, show the outlook for Australian industry remains positive, but reinforces the need...