The State’s lowest-paid workers will get a $12.30 a week pay rise, in a move social advocates say will have them relying on community services more than ever.
The WA Industrial Relations Commission today handed down the 2.2 per cent increase, effective from October, saying the rise was in line with the Perth CPI.
It will take the minimum wage, which covers about 2.2 per cent of the state’s workers, to $569.70. 
Unions had argued for a $31 a week increase, while the Chamber of Commerce and Industry pleaded for none.
The State Government had submitted $19 a week as appropriate.
WA Council of Social Services chief executive Sue Ash said the commission was “out of touch” with community expectations.
“This decision means (low-paid workers) will bear the brunt of the economic downturn,” she said.
“The CPI is a wholly inadequate measure of the real living cost pressures and income value of minimum wage workers as it does not reflect the basket of goods that (they) have to spend their money on.”
Food prices had risen 8.6 per cent in the year to March, while housing (8.1 per cent), health services (11.9 per cent) and education (15 per cent) had far exceeded the CPI figure.
“These stark increases… mean that low income earners will be relying on community services more than ever,” she said.
Source : www.watoday.com.au
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