The 2017 State Wage Case
Procedural history
The State Wage Case is held pursuant to section 50A of the Industrial Relations Act, 1979. This obliges the Commission before 1 July in each year to make a General Order setting the minimum wage under the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act, 1993 for employees over the age of 21, for apprentices and for trainees. The General Order also adjusts rates of wages paid under State awards.
Call for submissions
The application (Application No. 1 of 2017) was created on the Commission’s own motion on 4th January 2017. The Registrar will publish a Notice in newspapers calling for submissions. The Notice will be able to be viewed on the Commission’s website.
The hearing
The Commission in Court Session heard oral submissions from the Minister for Commerce and Industrial Relations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, UnionsWA and WA Council of Social Service on 18 May and 8 June 2017, and issued its decision on 14 June 2017. Proceedings can be viewed here. Transcripts of the hearing will be available here.
Availability of submissions
Written submissions of those who appear, along with those of interested persons or organisations, will be available here.
Who will be covered by the 2017 State Wage Case General Order?
The General Order will apply to those employers and employees covered by the WA industrial relations system. A list of those Awards that will be affected can be found here. To find out if you are covered by one of these Awards, or for further information on your employment conditions please contact Wageline on 1300 655 266. There is more information about the coverage of the State industrial relations system here.
Documents online
Documents relating to the 2017 State Wage Case will be able to be accessed from the menus at the top of this page.
Submissions
The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission is required to set the minimum wage to apply to employers and employees covered by the WA industrial relations system. It must do this before 1 July each year. The current minimum wage for an adult employee of $726.90 per week was set in June 2018 to apply from 1 July 2018. Additionally, the Commission is considering an Equal Remuneration Principle to implement equal remuneration for work of equal or comparable value.
The Commission invites interested persons and organisations to make a submission to the Commission on what minimum wage should be set in 2019 and the draft Equal Remuneration Principle. The Commission will hear oral submissions on Wednesday, 22 and if necessary Thursday, 23 May 2019. The proceedings are open to the public and will be webcast. Any person who wishes to make an oral submission at that time should notify the Registrar of the Commission stating the basis of their interest. This must be done by Tuesday, 14 May 2019.
Written submissions are also welcome. Any person or organisation who wishes to make a written submission should do so by Tuesday, 14 May 2019. Copies of written submissions may be made public. Anonymous submissions will not be considered. Submissions can be made by Emailing Registry, by post or over the counter (Level 17, 111 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000). Please quote 'APPL 1 of 2019' in all correspondence. Please feel free to contact the Commission's Registry about making a submission.
Relevant criteria
In making its decision, the Commission is required to consider the need to —
- ensure that Western Australians have a system of fair wages and conditions of employment; and
- meet the needs of the low paid; and
- provide fair wage standards in the context of living standards generally prevailing in the community; and
- contribute to improved living standards for employees; and
- protect employees who may be unable to reach an industrial agreement; and
- encourage ongoing skills development; and
- provide equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal or comparable value.
It is also required to consider:
- the state of the economy of Western Australia and the likely effect of its decision on that economy and, in particular, on the level of employment, inflation and productivity in Western Australia; and
- to the extent that it is relevant, the state of the national economy; and
- to the extent that it is relevant, the capacity of employers as a whole to bear the costs of increased wages, salaries, allowances and other remuneration; and
- the need to ensure that the Western Australian award framework represents a system of fair wages and conditions of employment; and
- relevant decisions of other industrial courts and tribunals; and
- any other relevant matters.
People interested in making a submission are invited to address those issues.
Who will be covered by the 2017 State Wage Case General Order?
The General Order will apply to those employers and employees covered by the WA industrial relations system. To find out if you are covered by the state system, or for further information on your employment conditions, please contact Wageline on 1300 655 266.