WORKERS TO LOSE UP TO $300 A WEEK

Australians on the minimum wage could lose up to $300 a week from their pay packets, because of the Morrison Government.

Under the Government’s new JobKeeper legislation low paid workers at a so-called “legacy business” will suffer bigger pay cuts than those still getting the wage subsidy.
 
The Government’s changes mean that a full-time minimum wage worker at a legacy business – a business that has recovered enough to no longer qualify for JobKeeper – could have their hours slashed by 40 per cent, knocking their take home pay from $753 a week to $450.

People on award minimum rates could experience even bigger pay cuts under this bill.
 
The Government’s scheme means businesses now on the road to recovery will have permission to slash their workers’ pay by more. As turnover goes up, take home pay can go down.
 
Labor will therefore pursue amendments to establish a safety net so that no worker can end up on less than the JobKeeper rate.
 
Vulnerable workers, already struggling through this pandemic, should not have to take a massive hit to their take home pay.
 
Why should a business trading at 90 per cent of normal have the power to take away 40 per cent of their workers’ wages with no safety net in place?

These are the same businesses the Government does not believe need taxpayer support through JobKeeper. This means the cost of business support is being shifted from the Government to low paid workers.

We hope this is an unintended consequence that the Government will join with us in fixing.

A few days ago the Government was arguing that even businesses that had fully recovered should have continued access to these emergency powers to cut hours and pay.
 
We are glad they backed down on that ridiculous plan by introducing a 10 per cent threshold.
 
We do not believe the Government has made the case for extending these emergency powers at all.

Low paid workers deserve better than to have their wages cut at a time that business is recovering.

WEDNESDAY, 26 AUGUST 2020