SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s independent wage-setting body on Wednesday raised the national minimum wage by 5.2%, largely in line with inflation, as families tackle soaring living costs.
The lowest-paid employees will receive an extra A$40 ($27.56) per week, the Fair Work Commission said after its annual review. The current rate is A$20.33 per hour.
The new centre-left Labor government, during the election campaign, had backed an inflation-matching 5.1% rise in minimum wages, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this month made a formal submission seeking a rise in wages.
($1 = 1.4514 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
