3.3 Contributions to earnings growth and the potential dis-employment effects The Australian Industry Group claimed in their submission that there has been a shift in the source of earnings from employment to wage rates, with increases in hours worked identified as the principal contributor to earnings growth in the first half of 2023, and income the dominant source in the second half. [...] ACTU Reply Submission to the 2023-24 Annual Wage Review - Page 19 3.4 Will the AWR decision drive inflation? Several employer submissions claimed that increases in the minimum and award wages would drive inflation or otherwise make it challenging to return inflation to the target band.17 Quite apart from the fact that the institutional mandates of the FWC and RBA are distinct, the claim is an unus. [...] The forecasts of both the Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Australia were unmodified following the notable increase in minimum and award wages last year, with the timing of the return to target unchanged between forecasts published prior to the last decision and updated forecasts published after the decision. [...] 57 ACCI submission at paragraph 139© ACTU Reply Submission to the 2023-24 Annual Wage Review - Page 41 In last year’s decision, the Panel gave a considered view of the proper construction of amendments to the FW Act which introduced a reference to promoting “job security” into the object of the Act and a requirement to take into account “the need to improve access to secure work…” into the modern. [...] Such bargaining may be commenced either by the employer(s) in the single enterprise initiating bargaining, or agreeing to bargain, or being compelled to do so by either operation of a determination of the FWC that a majority of the employees wish to do so64; or in some circumstances by the service of a notice in relating to bargaining for of an agreement to replace an extant agreement65.
Authors
- Pages
- 98
- Published in
- Australia
Table of Contents
- INDEX TO FIGURES 5
- INDEX TO TABLES 6
- 1. Introduction 7
- 2. Additional data 9
- 2.1 Consumer Price Index 9
- 2.2 NAB Business Survey 11
- 2.3 Labour Force, March 2024 12
- 3. Common issues raised in submissions 17
- 3.1 Productivity 17
- 3.1.1 Restaurant and Catering Industry Association 18
- 3.1.2 Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 19
- 3.2 Wage-price spiral 22
- 3.3 Contributions to earnings growth and the potential dis-employment effects 24
- 3.4 Will the AWR decision drive inflation? 26
- 3.5 Cumulative impact of AWR decisions 28
- 3.6 Inflation catch-up 30
- 4. Comment on specific submissions 32
- 4.1 National Farmers Federation 32
- 4.2 AUSVEG 34
- 4.3 South Australian Wine Association 35
- 4.4 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Women Australia 38
- 4.5 Housing Industry Association 39
- 4.6 Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 41
- 4.7 Laundry Association Australia 50
- 4.7 National Retail Association 51
- 4.8 Australian Retailers Association 53
- 4.9 Master Grocers Australia 56
- 4.10 Australian Industry Group 57
- 4.11 Council of Small Business Organisations Australia 58
- 4.12 Australian Government 59
- 4.13 Australian Catholic Council for Employment Relations 60
- 4.13 Victorian Government 60
- 5. Gender equALITY and this Review 62
- 5.1. The Stage 2 Gender Research Report – General Observations 63
- 5.2 Group 1 Adjustments: Application of the SCHADS ERO benchmark and an interim increase 64
- 5.3 Group 2 Adjustments: Degree-qualified classifications 65
- 5.4 Group 3 Measures: Priority Awards 67
- 5.5. Award-specific recommendations 69
- 5.5.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award 2020 – Dental Assistants 69
- 5.5.2 Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 – Veterinary Nurses 72
- 5.5.3 Children’s Services Award 2010 – Child Carers 75
- 5.5.4 Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 – Education Aides 77
- 5.5.5 General Retail Industry Award 2020 – Clothing Retail Sales Assistants, Retail Manager 79
- 5.5.6 Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 – Hairdressers, Beauty Therapists 80
- 5.5.7 Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 – Dental Assistants, Receptionists in Hospitals and in General Practice, Medical Technicians, Psychologists, General Clerks 82
- 5.5.8 Legal Services Award 2020 – Conveyancers and Legal Executives 84
- 5.5.9 Nurses Award 2020 – Midwives, Registered Nurses, Enrolled and Mothercraft Nurses, Nurse Managers 86
- 5.5.10 Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 – Pharmacy Sales Assistants 86
- 5.5.11 Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Service Industry Award 2010 – Aged and Disabled Carers 88
- 5.5.12 Clerks (Private Sector) Award 2020 90
- 5.5.13 Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020 91
- 5.6 Response to Employer Submissions 92
- 5.6.1 Gender Equality considerations 92
- 5.6.2 Wage increases will not undermine female workforce participation 93
- 5.6.3 The Gender Pay Gap 95
- 5.6.3 Submission of Australian Business Industrial and Business NSW 96
