Australia’s Fair Work Commission has raised the national minimum wage in an effort to dampen the effects of rising inflation.
More than 2.6 million Australians will be eligible for a pay rise of $40 (US$27) per week from July 1, an increase of 5.2 percent, while those on a modern minimum award wage will see rises of 4.6 percent.
Currently, inflation in Australia is sitting at 5.1 percent, but is set to hit seven percent near the end of the year.
“This level of increase will protect the real value of the wages of the lowest-paid workers,” the Commission said in its summary of the decision (pdf)….