In a decision that has devastated incomes and careers for 700,000 to 1,000,000 Australian workers, the Fair Work Commission has ruled that penalty rates across a number of key industry Awards will be reduced by significant amounts The Retail Award, for example, will have the current Sunday penalty reduced from 200% to 150%.
In the stroke of a pen the FWC has slashed the incomes of workers by as much as $77 per 8.0 hour Sunday shift.
In this appalling decision, the FWC acknowledges that reduced penalty rates will cause “hardships” for workers. The FWC decision doesn’t bother to pretend that it accepted the employers’ arguments that additional jobs would be created with savings generated through cutting wages. On this point the FWC says that, at best, “reducing penalty rates may have a modest effect on employment.”
It is important that Pharmacist members note that this decision will not impact on your current weekend penalty rates, which are preserved in our enterprise agreement.
Stay tuned for further information about campaigns to save penalty rates.
