Wages in Australia rose by a miserly 0.6 per cent for the September quarter, for an annual increase of only 2.2%, according to data released this morning by the ABS.
Australian workers have now suffered through eight years of record low wage growth.
The Wage Price Index statistics released by the ABS shows that the Morrison Government’s widely touted economic recovery has not trickled down to workers.
The Morrison Government’s sustained attack on workers’ rights and bargaining power, combined with legislation embedding insecure work by making it easier for employers to keep workers casual, are continuing to keep working Australians’ wages low.
Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:
“Eight years of record low wage growth through a series of Liberal governments, is not a coincidence. The Morrison Government has done nothing to address the systemic issues which are keeping wages low.
“Emerging from this pandemic, we need to see more money in working Australians’ pockets. That’s how we’ll see a real economic recovery.
“We need immediate action on the issue of insecure work in this country. An economic recovery that sees more people working multiple jobs, not having paid entitlements, and having limited bargaining power in their workplaces, is not a recovery at all.”
