04/06/2025
The Fair Work Commission has announced a 3.5% increase to the national minimum wage and award wages, effective from 1 July 2025. This adjustment raises the minimum hourly wage from $24.10 to $24.94, translating to an annual increase of approximately $1,670 for full-time workers .
This decision impacts around 2.6 million workers across Australia, including those in sectors such as retail, hospitality, and childcare . The wage hike aims to address the erosion of real incomes due to past high living costs, as inflation has eased to 2.4%, within the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range .
While unions have welcomed the increase as a significant step towards alleviating cost-of-living pressures, some small business advocates have expressed concerns about the potential impact on operating costs .
