Wage review will affect employers

Department of Commerce senior industrial inspector and education officer Brian Ravenscroft, with compliance and education director Joseph Lee, will make presentations on employment rights.

The Department of Commerce in Bunbury has warned business owners to be aware of changes to the industrial relations framework as Fair Work Australia released its 2011 Annual Wage Review decision on June 3.

The decision, which takes effect from the first pay period starting on or after July 1, increases modern award minimumwages by 3.4 per cent.

The new national minimum wage will be $589.30 per week or $15.51 per hour.

The Annual Wage Review increases pay rates for employees covered by the national minimum wage, modern awards, all transitional Australian Pay and Classification Scales, State reference transitional awards and Division 2B State enterprise awards.

Department of Commerce compliance and education director Joseph Lee said the industrial relations landscape was complicated as many business owners still did not know whether they were covered by Federal or State jurisdiction.

He said all employers should check their payroll obligations to make sure they were meeting their responsibilities.

The department’s new senior industrial inspector and education officer Brian Ravenscroft said many South West business owners were unaware of their payroll obligations.

Over the coming months, Mr Ravenscroft will make presentations on employment rights and obligations to groups of employers through their business associations and to groups of employees through schools, colleges and community groups.

Mr Ravenscroft will be available to visit workplaces and can provide information about pay rates and penalties.