Australian wage boost for 1.2m workers

MELBOURNE - More than 1.2 million low-income Australian workers have won pay rises up to A$27.36 ($31.84) a week in a landmark ruling by the new Australian Fair Pay Commission, hailed by unions but seen as risky by employers.

The overall decision is expected to benefit about 12 per cent of the national workforce.

The commission replaced the Australian Industrial Relations Commission as the arbiter of the nation's minimum wage, under the Howard Government's industrial reforms.

Unions had called for a A$30 a week increase in minimum wages, while a social welfare group said any rise had to be at least A$18.90.

More than one million of the 1.2 million of the workers covered by the decision will receive the full increase of A$27.36 a week.

The commission said the increase, to take effect from December 1, was to the standard federal minimum wage and in all pay scales up to $A700 a week. That increase brings the federal minimum wage to $A511.86 a week.

- AAP