The decision of the Fair Work Commission to raise the National Minimum Wage by 5.2% and modern award minimum wage rates by 4.6% will put pressure on small businesses at a time when the cost of doing business is already rising.
“Business NSW agreed that there should have been a rise in wages, with our submission to the Fair Work Commission advocating that up to 3 % on top of the 0.5% rise to the Superannuation Guarantee was a sensible common ground. The Commission has disagreed,” said Business NSW Chief Executive Daniel Hunter.
ANNUAL WAGE REVIEW DECISION 2022
WORKPLACE RELATIONS CIRCULAR
“We know from our regular Business Conditions Surveys that the costs of doing business are a major concern for business owners, and this will only add to their worries,” Mr Hunter said.
“Business NSW estimates today’s ruling equates to around a $2.5 billion increase in annual costs to NSW businesses. It’s easy to forget that 98% of all businesses in NSW are classified as small businesses.
“The Commission has taken into account the pressure on some sectors, with the rise to commence in the Tourism, Hospitality and Aviation sectors from 1 October, rather than 1 July for other Awards.
We know from our regular Business Conditions Surveys that the costs of doing business are a major concern for business owners, this will only add to their worries.
“In the public sector, we think the NSW Government has got it right with a 3% increase, going up to 3.5% next year with productivity reforms. This approach strikes the right balance between ensuring government sector front line workers get a pay rise while keeping an eye firmly on increasing debt and costs for the taxpayer.