Latest reviews & wage rates

On this page:

• What is the current Federal Minimum Wage?
• How do I find out what I should be paid?
• About the latest minimum wage review
• About the latest wages & allowances review

What is the current Federal Minimum Wage?

The current Federal Minimum Wage (FMW) is $543.78 per week ($14.31 per hour).

This rate was set by the Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC) in its July 2008 general Wage-Setting Decision and took effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 October 2008.

In its 2009 general Wage-Setting Decision, the AFPC decided to maintain the FMW at this rate and to maintain adult rates of pay in Australian Pay and Classification Scales (Pay Scales) at their current levels.

How do I find out what I should be paid?

Pay Scale Summaries for more than 400 of the most commonly used awards are available on the Fair Work Online website www.fairwork.gov.au.

These summaries have been adjusted to take account of the AFPC's 2009 general Wage-Setting Decision.

Further information about finding the right pay can be found by calling the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.

About the latest minimum wage review

The Australian Fair Pay Commission has completed a Review of Minimum Wages for 2009 and announced its final general Wage-Setting Decision on 7 July 2009.

From 1 August 2009, the task of setting minimum wages in the national workplace relations system transfers to the Minimum Wage Panel of Fair Work Australia.

The AFPC's 2009 Wage-Setting Decision and reasons for decision, along with research reports commissioned for the 2009 Minimum Wage Review are published in hard copy format and are available for download from the AFPC's website www.fairpay.gov.au.

The AFPC website, which also contains previous decisions and research of the AFPC, will be available until 31 December 2009. After this time decisions and associated documents of the AFPC will be available from this website.

About the latest wages & allowances review

Under the minimum wage system of 2006 to 2009, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) conducts a wages and allowances review to set allowances (across all awards) and minimum wages for non-national system employees dependent on federal awards. The AIRC review follows the AFPC review.

The latest AIRC Wages and Allowances Review was in 2008.