Minimum wage setting
2013 State Wage Case
The 2013 State Wage Case hearings will be held in the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission on 28 and 29 May 2013.
The Minister for Commerce has made a submission to the State Wage Case - the submission can be viewed below.
WA Government Submission
Attachment A (Economic Outlook)
Attachment B (State IR Coverage)
Attachment C (Rounding)
About minimum wage setting
There are two minimum wage rates operating in Western Australia, the national minimum wage and the State minimum wage. Which rate is applicable for Western Australian employees depends on whether their employment is covered by the national or State industrial relations system.
An annual independent review process for each industrial relations system sets minimum wage rates and also adjusts award wages. The national minimum wage is set by the Fair Work Commission and the State minimum wage is set by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
The wage reviews take into account factors such as the state of the economy and the labour market, the needs of the low paid and the capacity of employers to pay increased wages. The wage reviews consider submissions by stakeholders including the Western Australian Government.
In 2012 the national minimum wage and award rates were increased by 2.9% to $606.40 per week. The State minimum wage and award rates were increased by 3.4% to $627.70 per week. The new wage rates came into effect for the first pay period on or after 1 July 2012.
The next wage reviews will be run between March and June 2013.
If you are not sure which industrial relations system covers your workplace, or which rates of pay are applicable, call Wageline on 1300 655 266.
Award summaries for wage rates in the State industrial relations system are available in the Pay and Leave section of this website.
Further information:
Information regarding the national minimum wage review is available through the Fair Work Commission website, and information on the State minimum wage review is available from the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission’s website.