FWC Update – Draft determinations for wages and expense-related allowances published

Draft determinations for wages and expense-related allowances

On 16 June 2021, the Expert Panel issued its Annual Wage Review 2020–21 decision [2021] FWCFB 3500 to vary modern award minimum rates.

The decision determined different operative dates for different awards as follows:

• 1 September 2021 – General Retail Industry Award 2020
• 1 November 2021 – modern awards listed at para [298]
• 1 July 2021 – all remaining modern awards

Draft determinations adjusting minimum wages in the modern industry and occupational awards, the modern enterprise awards and the State reference public sector modern awards have been published.

As outlined in the Statement [2021] FWCFB 3497 issued on 17 June 2021, the draft determinations adjusting expense-related allowances for awards with an operative date of 1 July 2021 have also been published. The determinations for awards with an operative date of 1 September 2021 and 1 November 2021 will be published closer to each of the relevant operative dates, and interested parties will have an opportunity to review and comment on them.

The Commission is seeking feedback on the draft determinations, which can be downloaded from the Draft determinations page in the Annual Wage Review 2020–21 section of the Commission’s website.

Interested parties are encouraged to review the existing rates contained in Modern awards and compare those to the proposed rates. Existing rates can be found in the current awards, accessible from the Modern awards list on the Commission’s website.

Any feedback should be emailed to amod@fwc.gov.au by no later than 5pm on Thursday, 24 June 2021.

National Training Wage

The operative date of wage increases for employees undertaking a traineeship under the National Training Wage  (NTW) will be in accordance with the operative date set by the Expert Panel in relation to modern award minimum wages.

A temporary note will be inserted into the NTW incorporation clause in the awards with an operative date of 1 September 2021 and 1 November 2021. Draft determinations inserting that note can be downloaded from the Draft determinations page on the Commission’s website.

Any feedback should be emailed to amod@fwc.gov.au by no later than 5pm on Thursday, 24 June 2021.

Draft National Minimum Wage Order

The draft National Minimum Wage Order has also been published, and is available on the National Minimum Wage Order 2021 page of our website.

Any enquiries or suggested amendments to the draft order should be emailed to awr@fwc.gov.au by no later than 5pm on Thursday, 24 June 2021.

18 June 2021