Some independent retailers may be forced to close because they cannot afford to pay the three percent increase in minimum wages, an employer group says.
From July 1 the national minimum wage will rise by $21.60, amounting to $740.80 a week.
But unions say many low-paid workers will also continue to struggle to make ends meet after being awarded a lower wage rise this year.
MGA Independent Retailers CEO Jos de Bruin said the three percent wage rise was a serious blow to the survival of the independent retail industry, coming on top of a 3.5 percent increase last year and 3.3 percent in 2017.
De Bruin said most independent supermarkets, liquor stores, timber, and hardware retailers were owned by families who work long hours to make a small profit.
“This new rate will cause serious damage to their sustainability and many will have no alternative but to close their doors,” he said in a statement.
Other business groups also warned small businesses would struggle to pay the extra $21.60 a week to their employees, estimating it will cost all employers an additional $3.1 billion a year.
Australian Retailers’ Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said he hoped the Fair Work Commission decision would not lead to more retailers closing.
“There are a large number of very small retailers who, in actual fact, cannot draw a proper wage out of their business, business owners who live from hand to mouth,” he told reporters.
“This decision will make it very difficult for some small retailers who are probably living as close to the breadline as anybody could.”
The United Voice union said an extra 57 cents an hour will make no meaningful difference to cleaners and aged care, hospitality and retail workers struggling to pay bills and make ends meet.
“What it does mean is continued inequity and struggling to get by,” its national secretary Jo-anne Schofield said.
The SDA union’s national secretary Gerard Dwyer said while the wage increase would provide a much-needed boost to take-home pay, retail, and fast food workers were still being left behind.
“With historic low wage growth and coming cuts to penalty rates, there’s no doubt many workers will continue struggling to make ends meet,” he said.
Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell said the wage rise would affect small businesses, but backed the independent process behind the decision.
Who Gets it?
* Fair Work Commission decision directly affects 2.2 million workers—21 percent of all employees.* It affects the 180,200 employees paid the minimum wage and those workers whose wages are set by a modern award minimum wage.
* Decision indirectly affects many more, particularly those paid close to the minimum wages or whose pay is set by a collective agreement linked to annual wage review.
* Affected employees include hospitality workers, cleaners, retail staff, factory process workers, restaurant and takeaway food workers, security guards.
* Federal government says just under one-third of award-reliant workers are classified as low paid.
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